After a four-year pause in placing classroom teachers, Teach For America will again assign corps members to St. Louis-area schools beginning with the 2026-27 academic year — a return welcomed by some school leaders and approached cautiously by others.
Missouri Executive Director Julie Gronquist said the organization did not fully exit the region during the hiatus. Instead, Teach For America shifted its local focus during the COVID-19 pandemic to tutoring and leadership development initiatives.
“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.”
Gronquist said school leaders and philanthropic partners encouraged the organization to resume classroom placements as districts continue to struggle with hiring and retention, particularly in hard-to-fill subject areas.
“We heard a strong desire to bring the corps member program back,” she said.
Initial placements modest
Dan Hurbner, head of region for Teach For America–St. Louis, said the organization expects to place four corps members in the region this fall while negotiations with districts and charter schools continue.
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 statewide.
Hurbner described the initial cohort as “intentionally modest,” noting that larger corps sizes could follow as partnerships are finalized.
“When we look at where we place teachers, it is in districts and schools predominantly serving historically marginalized communities,” Hurbner said.
State education data show vacancies are most acute in elementary education, special education, math and science — areas Teach For America says it is prioritizing in recruitment.
Supporters argue that placing committed teachers, even through alternative certification pathways, is preferable to leaving students with long-term substitutes.
The restart carries particular weight in St. Louis and parts of North County, where schools have faced ongoing staffing shortages.
Alumni point to impact
Among Teach For America’s nearly 600 regional alumni is St. Louis City Treasurer Adam Layne, who joined the program 15 years ago and taught high school math at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy.
Layne planned to remain in St. Louis for two years but stayed in education for three. He later served on the St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education before being elected treasurer.
“It was the toughest thing that I’ve ever done,” Layne said of teaching. “But it definitely prepared me for the rest of the challenges in life.”
Layne said teaching shaped his understanding of how policy decisions affect students, families and neighborhoods. He supported Teach For America’s earlier pause as recruitment pipelines declined during the pandemic.
“They were seeing a pretty big decline in folks who wanted to sign up for the program, in St. Louis and nationally,” Layne said. “I think they made the right decision by saying we’ll take a pause and pivot.”
Teach For America leaders say alumni engagement remains central to the organization’s long-term strategy. Program officials estimate that one in five principals within Teach For America’s St. Louis footprint is an alum.
Skepticism remains
Not everyone views the organization’s return without reservation.
Byron Clemmings of the American Federation of Teachers–St. Louis said some educators continue to question the program’s local track record and its reliance on alternatively certified teachers.
“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.
Clemmings also said St. Louis Public Schools previously paid about $5,000 per corps member, adding that participants were not fully certified educators when they entered classrooms.
Those concerns mirror broader national debates surrounding Teach For America’s model.
Critics question whether five to seven weeks of summer training adequately prepares novice teachers for high-needs classrooms. Others cite retention challenges tied to the program’s two-year commitment.
Teach For America has also faced criticism over equity concerns, including claims that inexperienced teachers were disproportionately placed in schools serving predominantly Black and low-income students.
Program leaders respond
Hurbner said Teach For America recognizes those concerns but emphasized that corps members receive intensive preservice training, ongoing coaching and mentorship.
“We understand the questions around preparation and stability,” he said. “Our corps members are supported through training and continuous development.”
Hurbner added that participants meet state requirements and are authorized to teach upon entering classrooms.
He also pointed to research from the American Institutes for Research finding that Teach For America teachers demonstrate “a consistent, positive impact” on student learning.
“This is about strengthening long-term leadership in schools and communities,” Hurbner said.
Background
Teach For America was founded in 1989 by Wendy Kopp to address teacher shortages in low-income urban and rural districts. The first corps members entered classrooms in 1990.
The organization officially launched in St. Louis in 2002. In December, Teach For America merged its St. Louis and Kansas City operations into a unified statewide entity, Teach For America Missouri.
Gronquist said recruitment is underway for future cohorts as the organization works to expand partnerships across the region.