Teach For America celebrates 35 years in Louisiana

For 35 years, Teach for America has brought thousands of college graduates to Louisiana classrooms with the promise of a two-year commitment. But the organization’s most lasting impact may come from what happens afterward.

Of the 4,004 corps members who have served in Louisiana over 35 years, more than 1,300 alumni have stayed. They plant roots. They lead schools, run nonprofits, start businesses, shape policy and build programs that endure long after their corps terms end.

Lucas Spielfogel graduated from Yale and came to Louisiana in 2010 as a social studies teacher at Baker Middle School. Since 2012, he's been leading the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition. He's help the organization grow from supporting 50 high school students to serving nearly 500 eighth through 12th graders and 920 alumni.