Teach For America, a nonprofit organization, has been working to provide excellent education to all kids for 36 years. One of its pilot sites was Scotlandville High School in Baton Rouge, La. Aneesh Sohoni, the current CEO of Teach For America, started out as a high school English teacher and became executive director of TFA in Chicago.
Sohoni’s goal is to make sure every kid has access to an excellent education. He is focused on three things: reinspiring belief in education, recruiting the next generation of educators, and building a talent pipeline that is fluent in emerging technology. Sohoni believes that TFA can be the best first job in the AI economy, given the mix of leadership and human skills it helps build.
Early Days and Experience
Sohoni’s experience as a TFA classroom teacher almost 17 years ago is why he is still in education today. He taught at an alternative high school in Minneapolis, working with 18- to 21-year-olds, many of whom were of East African descent. Sohoni’s experience shaped his views on education and opportunity and made him committed to doing this work for life.
Sohoni recently met with Harvard economist Tom Kane, who called the gains in national student outcomes from 1990 to 2015 “the greatest social change effort of our time.” Sohoni also pointed to the success of TFA alumni in Louisiana, who have stayed and taken on leadership roles across the system, helping to shape policy and build programs that endure.
Challenges and Opportunities
Sohoni acknowledged that TFA has faced challenges, including a decline in recruitment numbers. However, he said that the organization has focused on positioning teaching as a launchpad for purpose-driven leaders, and it’s working: over the past three years, the incoming corps size is up 43 percent. Sohoni also emphasized the importance of using technology to support teaching, rather than replacing it.
Sohoni testified before the U.S. House education committee about AI in the classroom, saying that “the future of learning will require a blending of technology and human expertise, with teachers leading and guiding, and technology supporting.” He believes that AI can help deliver more individualized instruction, but only if it’s rooted in high-quality instructional materials and strengthens rather than replaces the human relationships that drive learning.
As a parent, Sohoni wants his kids led by a well-prepared teacher who understands AI, uses it thoughtfully, and creates the trust that makes deep learning possible. He emphasized the importance of human connection in learning, saying that “we’re wired to feel seen, safe, and connected in order to learn best.” This connection, he believes, can never come from an algorithm, but only from a teacher who knows a student and adapts in the moment.
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In the context of education, Sohoni’s emphasis on human connection and teacher leadership is particularly significant.
Sohoni’s advice to school or system leaders is to lean into their teachers’ energy and invest in them. He believes that this generation of teachers is motivated by purpose, hungry for community, and fluent with technology, and that they should be given real agency and strong support to build classrooms that are more engaging and rigorous.
TFA has long been criticized by teachers’ unions and education schools for undermining teacher professionalism. Sohoni acknowledged that TFA has faced criticism, but said that the organization tries to listen to its partners and critics, and that feedback shapes how it works with students and communities. He emphasized that there is more agreement than is often acknowledged, particularly when it comes to ensuring that kids are reading by 3rd grade, on grade level in math by 8th grade, and prepared for college and career.
According to Sohoni, TFA’s nearly 70,000 alumni have made a collective impact on the education system, with many going on to become leaders in their communities. One notable example is the District of Columbia, which has been one of the fastest-improving urban school systems in the country, with steady progress in math and reading. TFA alumni have been part of this effort, working as teachers, principals, system leaders, school chancellors, and deputy mayors of education.
Future Plans
Sohoni is trying to help college students see teaching as a strong first job in the AI economy. He believes that corps members build valuable skills, such as leadership and interpersonal skills, that employers value. By positioning teaching as a career launchpad, Sohoni hopes to bring more talent into classrooms.
Sohoni sees this as a powerful example of the promise of TFA.
