May 16, 2014
‘High-caliber’ alumni bolster Teach For America’s mission
Providence College graduates are working with Teach For America (TFA) in record numbers.
This 2013-14 academic year, 16 graduates or former students at PC began teaching through TFA in underserved classrooms across America. The national organization is dedicated to improving the quality of education for low-income students in urban areas. Teachers typically make an initial two-year commitment that inspires most to long-term work in the movement to end educational inequity.
Sixteen represents the highest number of individuals with PC roots to enroll with TFA in a single academic year and is double the number of Friars who began serving the organization in 2012-13. The 24 individuals are serving in 16 areas.
“There is so much mission alignment between PC and Teach For America,” said Heather Tow-Yick, executive director of TFA/Rhode Island. She said PC’s graduates distinguish themselves as “high-caliber” teachers and individuals.
Thirty-two alumni or former PC students have served TFA since the College’s first participant, Marlon L. Davis ’94, joined the organization in 1994. That number includes Osvaldo Marti ’07, who began teaching with Greater Philadelphia in 2007 and is now the director of teacher leadership development for TFA/R.I., and Kyle Quadros ’08, who is currently head of school for Elementary School I at the Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy in Cumberland, R.I.
