Teacher Employment

Teach For America and RISE

RISE partners with Teach For America because of the clear alignment of our shared fundamental belief – effective teachers in low-income communities are the key to closing the achievement gap.

RISE views our work as a continuation of TFA’s – focusing on retaining quality teachers by connecting you with schools where you can be successful.

5 Reasons TFA alumni use RISE

Join the more than 180 TFA alumni who have used RISE because...

1. Quality Schools – Leadership matters. Schools on the RISE Network outscored similar schools nationally in Teaching Conditions Survey results – data from teachers at the schools. RISE makes this data available in school profiles so you can find a school where you can to thrive.

“The schools listed on RISE were the kinds of schools I wanted to be working in…My new school is phenomenal. The administration is incredibly supportive, teachers are very empowered, and there’s so much collaboration.”
-Jenny (Ohlson) Kellard, Chicago ’05, Kindergarten Teacher

2. Principals Reach Out to You – One 30-minute application connects you to more than 100 school leaders that share your commitment. Principals are using RISE to find talented teachers and value what TFA alumni offer.

“After being accepted on RISE, principals began reaching out to me and, in the end, I had three offers. It made the process of looking for a job in another city quick and simple.”
-Jenny (Ohlson) Kellard, Chicago ’05, Kindergarten Teacher

3. Job Seeking Support - RISE’s regional Executive Directors help you identify schools that are a good fit for your needs.

“Thank you and the rest of the staff at RISE. You made this process much easier than it could have been.”
-Sam Berg, D.C. ’01, 3rd Grade Teacher

4. Career Development - Many RISE Partner Schools engage teacher leadership and provide opportunities for teachers to achieve professional goals within the school. Eliza Zamor (LA ’00) found a school where she could move towards administration.

“When I decided that I wanted to go back into the classroom, I contacted RISE because I was looking for a teacher/leadership position…” Read more about Eliza’s experience below.

5. Job Seeking while Moving – Because the RISE application and Network are all online, teachers can connect with a range of schools and principals before their move.

“RISE not only mitigated any employment worries (finding the right school, principal, location), but the Network allowed me to have a job BEFORE I moved to the Bay Area.”
-Michael Mahdi, Miami-Dade ’05, Middle School Science Teacher

TFA-RISE School Leadership Case Study: Eliza Zamor (LA ’00)

Eliza started her teaching career as a seventh grade science teacher for ESL students in South Central LA through Teach For America. In 2003, she found her next teaching position at a RISE Partner School. After a working as a science coach with a non-profit organization, Eliza decided to pursue her goal of leading her own school with the Alliance Charter system. She applied and was accepted into the Ed.D program at USC and turned to RISE to help move in that direction.

"In Spring of 2006, when I decided that I wanted to go back into the classroom, I contacted RISE because I was looking for a teacher/leadership position. I was concerned that I would only be contacted by principals looking for a teacher but not offering other leadership opportunities. The wonderful team at RISE helped note what I was looking for in my RISE profile, and when the principal contacted me, he knew what I was after."

"Since signing on with him not only have I been named as a teacher, but as the science lead at the school, and the curriculum developer for the marine biology program at this and other schools in the Network. The position surpassed my hopes! Simply having RISE as a continual resource is unbelievable. I tell every teacher I know about the program and hope that more and more will sign up. I truly appreciate how RISE looks to keep good teachers in places where they can thrive.”