Dr. Nikole Shurn did not begin her career intending to become an educator. She earned a master’s degree in communications from Webster University and planned a career in that field.
A series of personal changes redirected her path, and in 2014 Shurn joined Teach for America, which recruits “high-potential” leaders from diverse academic backgrounds for two-year teaching commitments in under-resourced schools following intensive summer training.
Shurn said the program opened a path into education that eventually led her into leadership. She now serves as principal of the Lieberman Learning Center in University City.
“I do give credit to Teach for America for even providing that pathway,” she said. “Without it, I would not be sitting here.”
Stories like Shurn’s are often cited by supporters as evidence that Teach for America — commonly known as TFA — can bring new talent into education and even develop future school leaders.
But the program’s planned return to St. Louis classrooms after a four-year pause also revives long-running debate about its model, particularly the use of alternatively certified teachers and the program’s two-year service commitment.
A debated pathway into teaching
Teach for America participants are not required to have formal training in education. They complete several weeks of accelerated training and then earn teaching certification while working in the classroom.
Supporters say the model helps address teacher shortages and attracts talented graduates who might otherwise never consider teaching.
Critics argue the training period is too short and that placing novice teachers in high-needs schools can contribute to instability.
Byron Clemmings of the American Federation of Teachers-St. Louis said the organization’s earlier presence in the region left unresolved questions.
“They walked away from St. Louis Public Schools, and we haven’t seen local research demonstrating measurable long-term success of Teach for America in St. Louis,” Clemmings said.
He also noted that St. Louis Public Schools previously paid about $5,000 per corps member to participate in the program.
Those criticisms mirror national debates about TFA’s approach. Some education advocates question whether five to seven weeks of summer preparation adequately prepares teachers for challenging classrooms. Others point to retention concerns tied to the two-year commitment.
Modest restart amid teacher shortages
TFA leaders say the organization’s return is partly a response to ongoing teacher shortages. Missouri Executive Director Julie Gronquist said the organization shifted its focus to tutoring and leadership programs during the pandemic.
“We never left St. Louis,” Gronquist said. “But the funnel into the teaching profession was one of those things that faced a lot of challenges.”
Dan Huebner, head of region for TFA-St. Louis, said the initial group of corps members will be intentionally small — about a dozen teachers beginning in the 2026-27 school year.
Placements are expected to focus on elementary classrooms as well as middle and high school English language arts, math and science — subjects that have experienced persistent vacancies.
Dr. Jim Triplett, principal of Jackson Park Elementary School and a 2012 TFA corps member, said school systems facing staffing shortages must consider multiple recruitment strategies.
“With the shortages we’re seeing today, districts have to consider multiple pathways into the profession,” he said. “Having someone with a college degree committed to teaching for two years can help fill gaps where classrooms might otherwise go unstaffed.”
Alumni point to leadership pipeline
Supporters also argue that TFA’s long-term impact extends beyond the classroom through its alumni network.
Program leaders estimate roughly 600 alumni now live and work across the St. Louis region, including teachers, principals, nonprofit leaders and elected officials.
Triplett, who entered the program after completing traditional education degrees, said the organization provided coaching and leadership development that complemented his academic preparation.
“Teach for America provided additional coaching on top of my education and experience,” Triplett said. “That professional development helped prepare me for leadership roles later on.”
Program leaders defend preparation
TFA officials acknowledge that the program represents a nontraditional route into teaching but say corps members receive extensive support.
Huebner said participants receive intensive training before entering classrooms and ongoing coaching during their service.
“We understand the questions around preparation and stability,” he said. “Our corps members are supported through training and continuous development.”
Shurn said the experience required significant on-the-job learning but believes the preparation was sufficient.
“It is very untraditional,” she said. “But I felt well prepared. There was a lot of learning on the job, and they continued to support us even after the two-year commitment.”
Founded in 1989 by Wendy Kopp, Teach for America began placing teachers in classrooms in 1990 and launched in St. Louis in 2002. The organization merged its St. Louis and Kansas City operations into a statewide entity, Teach for America Missouri, last year.
Teach For America is THE highest return on investment in human capital we have ever seen in STL. Not only are about 50% of our alums still teaching and leading public and private schools in the region, they are doctors, lawyers, business owners who have a strong tie to public education. They work in big and small companies and live throughout our region. Not only have they become great leaders themselves, they are teaching new young leaders to reach their full potential. We must ramp this up fast as we need the teachers and we need new residents in our region.