100,000 Kids Falling Behind
In Miami-Dade, more than 100,000 children are growing up in poverty. By the time these students reach the tenth grade, less than 20% read at grade-level.
Middle school student at Allapattah Middle School in downtown Miami.
Bringing Personal Insight
More than 250 corps members are working to close Miami-Dade's achievement gap. One-third of these teachers were the first college graduates in their families, giving them unique insight into the challenges their students face.
Will Silva (Miami-Dade Corps '08) teaches algebra at Campbell Drive middle school in Homestead.
Humbling Recognition
In 2009, 38% of Teach For America’s corps members were nominated for Rookie Teacher of the Year at their schools. Among the regional finalists and the district winner, three were corps members and alumni in 2010.
Andy Canales’ (Miami-Dade Corps '08) students hone their social studies skills in a game of Jeopardy.
  

Our People

Corps Members, Alumni, and Supporters

  • Milca Pierre
    Miami-Dade Corps 2005
    “All children have the ability to learn.”
  • Marc Sachse
    Miami-Dade Corps 2010
    “Being a corps member is challenging and rewarding.”
  • Stacy Diaz
    Miami-Dade Corps 2010
    “I am very proud of every single one of my students.”
  • Manny Lamarre
    Miami-Dade Corps 2009
    “I wanted to be a role model for the young boys and girls in my community.”
  • Johanna Ralsten
    Miami-Dade Corps 2009
    “If you want to see where the nation is heading, look here.”
  • Julian Davenport
    Miami-Dade Corps 2005
    “Most critical to the success in my role is being able to build relationships.”
  • George Okrah
    Greater New Orleans Corps 2003
    “Teach For America is something that stays with you as part of your narrative forever.”
  • Raiza Lisboa
    Miami-Dade Corps 2009
    “Education is the only way to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots.”
  • Lauren Harshbarger
    Miami-Dade Corps 2009
    “I feel privileged to teach such intelligent, creative, and caring students.”

Message from the Executive Director

Rebecca Fishman Lipsey

Rebecca Fishman Lipsey

Miami is arguably the most diverse and vibrant city in our great nation, and we have the power and ability to ensure the children we reach –90% of whom self-identify as minority– achieve an excellent education. At the heart of all great solutions are great leaders, and at Teach For America • Miami-Dade we aim to bring the most exceptional leaders to our city to fuel the effort for change.  Thanks to the incredible support of so many community members, we will be bringing our largest cohort of leaders ever to Miami this year.  With 250 corps members teaching 18,000 children living in poverty we will have the opportunity to impact nearly one-fifth of our city’s highest-need students.

We are enthusiastic about generating transformational results in our city’s pervasively lowest performing schools to ensure that all students in Miami-Dade can access unlimited life opportunities.  At Northwestern Senior High, for example, we will have close to 30 corps members working to dramatically to increase student learning. We will also have corps members in the elementary and middle schools that feed into Northwestern, in efforts to accelerate and maintain the closing of the achievement gap for students in need.

As our corps members grow into alumni they will bring passion, understanding, and experience to our community and will serve as continued advocates for our students in and out of the classroom.  

Rebecca Fishman Lipsey joined Teach For America in 2004, as a corps member teaching in Harlem, New York. Rebecca increased student reading levels in her classroom by more than 1.5 years in her first year, and more than 1.75 years in her second year. As Miami-Dade's executive director, Rebecca has tripled the program's reach, established the region’s first master’s degree program for corps members, and launched several unique partnerships with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Rebecca recently won the Stevie International Women in Business Award for “Best Nonprofit Executive.” She was the valedictory speaker of her graduating class at the University of Pennsylvania and holds a M. Ed. from Bank Street College of Education. 

Regional News

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Contact Us

Teach For America • Miami-Dade
3250 NE 1st Avenue
Space 10,11 &12
Miami, FL 33137
p: 786-245-8412, f: 786-245-8418

Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, Executive Director

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