Raymond James Supports Teach For America
Invested in educating where we live and work
As part of our longstanding commitment to supporting children, families and education opportunities in the communities where we live and work, Raymond James proudly launched Ready for School: A philanthropy program designed to help students achieve their unique goals inside the classroom, outside the classroom, and beyond.
Our initial cohort consists of 11 organizations making a difference in the lives of students across Tampa Bay. Among them: Teach for America of Central Florida.
A transformational vision
Teach For America (TFA) envisions a world where educators, policymakers, parents and students collaborate to build the foundations needed for communities to learn, lead, thrive and nurture a better tomorrow. Through their mission to find and develop leaders capable of transforming education for all children, the organization is turning that vision into action.
For LaKeisha Wells-Palmer, statewide executive director of Teach For America regions in Florida, the goal is simple.
“I want every teacher to feel fully equipped to support their students,” LaKeisha said. “I believe that positive adults produce positive young people, and proficient teachers produce proficient students.”
People join TFA through multiple pathways: Corps members are full-time teachers who make a two-year commitment, while Ignite fellows are part-time tutors who work virtually for a shorter term. Both roles aim to support educational equity and, ultimately, improve outcomes for students.
How it works
Educational inequity is an unfortunate reality for many students across the U.S., and children experiencing this inequity lack the resources and opportunities necessary to thrive in school. TFA’s combination of talent recruitment, leadership development and ongoing network support helps make a real and meaningful impact where it’s needed most.
While TFA Corps members make a two-year commitment to classroom teaching, the majority of TFA alumni continue to work in education or in careers serving low-income communities beyond those two years. The organization’s network of more than 61,000 alumni includes:
- More than 14,800 alumni teachers
- 1,337 school leaders
- 996 school system leaders
- 1,252 policy and advocacy leaders
- More than 300 elected leaders
- 224 social entrepreneurs
In one recent study out of Miami-Dade county, students taught by TFA math teachers went on to have better math grades the following year, and students in TFA classrooms were less likely to miss school due to absences and suspensions. Another study out of Kansas City showed that TFA teachers help to raise test scores for students in both math and English language arts.
“The Tampa Bay community has been extremely enthusiastic about our talent pipeline and initiatives, said LaKeisha. “We’ve been able to make a direct impact on student’s lives while layering our initiatives onto existing college and career readiness efforts in our communities. Investing in both hard and soft skills is key to building the next generation of leaders.”
Raymond James ICD president Shannon Reid serves on the Central Florida Regional Advisory board for TFA and has a front-row seat to the organization’s meaningful work.
“I’ve seen the direct impact of Teach For America’s Work on students in the classroom,” Shannon said. “One great example is the students in the Ignite Fellowship who start with high impact tutoring and go on to become teachers themselves and create a lasting, far-reaching and multi-level impact on our community.”
Bringing the impact to Tampa Bay
Raymond James has partnered with TFA to fund a new Teacher Corps cohort in Hillsborough County in 2024 and are working to expand into Pinellas County in 2025, in support of the area’s underperforming schools. Corps teachers are selected, trained and supported by TFA, certified to teach while in the program and hired by a local school or district.
“We set out with a goal of 15 teachers and ended up bringing in over 30,” LaKeisha said. “Without our partnership with Raymond James, we wouldn’t have been able to bring in double the amount of talent we expected.”
TFA aims to foster lasting, sustainable change that extends beyond immediate community needs. This is crucial in Tampa Bay, where educational inequities vary, with some areas in Pinellas County facing higher student poverty rates than the national average. TFA in Tampa Bay is focused on expanding support and reducing teacher shortages.
Beyond the classroom, TFA also elevates leaders to top roles across the state, including school board members, principals and policymakers, to cultivate leadership that empowers students to thrive and progress.
Preparing for challenges and opportunities – together
“We know Teach For America is not a silver bullet solution, but we truly believe we are creating long-term and sustainable change” LaKeisha said. “Being able to work in partnership with our students, communities, leaders and other organizations like Raymond James helps ensure we’re creating the best conditions possible for students to thrive.”
Community partnership sits at heart of the work of both Raymond James and Teach For America. The work helps bridge math and reading literacy gaps, and creates the next generation of educational leaders, teachers and tutors.
“Teach For America fills a crucial niche in our communities,” Shannon said. “While they’ve been impactful nationally for some time, I’m very excited about their growing impact in the Tampa Bay area. The organization has big objectives. I’m confident that together we can support more teachers and help improve education.”
Learn more about Teach for America’s work in the Florida region at teachforamerica.org/florida.
Teach For America is one of 11 Ready for School organizations making a difference in the lives of students across Tampa Bay. Learn more at raymondjames.com/ready-for-school.