WASHINGTON, D.C. — September 21, 2026 — Teach For America (TFA), The Forum for Educational Leadership, and Women Leading Ed today announced a new partnership to support TFA alumni serving in senior education leadership roles across the country.

Twenty-two TFA alumni from 10 regions were selected to participate in two national leadership programs: 14 through The Forum for Educational Leadership and eight through Women Leading Ed. Participating leaders serve in senior roles across districts, charter networks, and state education agencies. The partnership is part of TFA’s investment to support alumni who have moved into system leadership and are preparing to take on even greater responsibility. 

It also brings together organizations with deep ties to Teach For America. Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer, founder of Women Leading Ed and co-founder and partner of The Forum for Educational Leadership, and Emily Hartnett, Executive Director of Women Leading Ed, are both TFA alumni.

“Teach For America’s superpower has always been finding smart, dedicated people willing to take on hard problems,” said Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer, founder of Women Leading Ed and co-founder of The Forum for Educational Leadership. “When talent and support meet, real progress is possible. Running a school system today means politics, pressure, constant scrutiny and change that never stops, and we still hand people the top job and hope they figure it out. When they don’t, the district loses years, and students never get those years back. That is the reality The Forum and Women Leading Ed prepare leaders for, each in its own way. We get people ready for the hardest jobs in education, ready to lead and ready to stay, because that is what changes outcomes for kids.”

“No one reaches the highest levels of leadership alone,” said Emily Hartnett, Executive Director of Women Leading Ed. “Trajectories change because someone shares their experience, makes an introduction, or reminds an aspiring leader that they belong in the room. Women Leading Ed has built a national community where that happens every day.  Bringing TFA alumni into our network means connecting them with women leading at the highest levels of districts and states across the country.  This effort is a powerful opportunity to support more leaders as they step into bigger roles and make an even greater impact.”

“Our alumni are leading at every level of education, and we want to continue investing in them as their impact grows,” said Casey DeFord, Senior Managing Director of Alumni Educator Leadership Advancement at TFA. “The leaders participating in The Forum and Women Leading Ed are already doing consequential work in districts, states and communities across the country. These partnerships will help them strengthen the skills and relationships they need to lead at an even greater scale.”

Women Leading Ed is the largest national nonprofit network supporting women serving at the highest levels of K–12 leadership with members in all 50 states. The eight TFA alumni selected through the partnership will have the opportunity to join the Women Leading Ed’s year-round leadership development and programming.

The Forum for Educational Leadership prepares current and aspiring senior education executives for the demands of system leadership. Its programming covers strategy, implementation, change management, talent, governance, communications, political strategy and executive leadership. Since launching in 2022, The Forum has served more than 700 education leaders serving more than 21 million students across the country.

The organizations will also work with participating leaders and TFA regions to deepen insights and research about the role of state and district superintendents and to identify opportunities to support more alumni pursuing senior district and state leadership roles.

About Women Leading Ed

Women Leading Ed (WLE) is the largest national bipartisan nonprofit network of women in education leadership. WLE is committed to supporting and advancing women in education leadership through research, advocacy, and engagement with women at every stage of their leadership journeys. Women Leading Ed is taking on the big challenges facing the field and building a dynamic network within which leaders collaborate. Women Leading Ed is committed to identifying, developing, and sustaining the next generation of leadership and shaping the public dialogue about education leadership more broadly using research and storytelling.

About ILO Group

ILO Group was built on a simple, shared mission: to roll up our sleeves and do whatever it takes to support K-12 system leaders’ big bets – from continuing to respond to student needs exacerbated by the pandemic to supporting all students thriving as we look ahead. A proudly women-owned, women-led education strategy and policy firm, ILO Group, stands for In the Life Of. We work side-by-side with the country’s leading educators, experts, and government partners to help solve the toughest challenges facing school systems and leaders today because we’ve been in their shoes. With decades of collective experience, our seasoned team of consultants has supported many of the nation’s largest and highest-profile school systems and education-focused organizations. Our clients span school districts, state education agencies and other government agencies, nonprofits, philanthropy, start ups, civic-minded businesses, and beyond. They all share one thing in common: an unwavering commitment to supporting our nation’s students and young people. Through our work, we have supported leaders serving 1 in 2 students in America.

About Teach For America

Teach For America works in partnership with communities across the country to reach One Day when every child has access to an excellent education. Founded in 1990, Teach For America finds, develops, and supports a growing network of leaders who expand opportunity for children from classrooms, schools, and every sector and field that impacts a young person’s education. Today, Teach For America is a force of over 70,000 alumni, corps members, and Ignite fellows working in pursuit of profound change so that one day every child has the opportunity to learn, lead, thrive, and co-create a future filled with possibility. Teach For America is a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Threads.