Teach for America core members gain classroom experience in PHARR-SAN JUAN-ALAMO ISD summer program

A core member of Teach for America said the 2026 summer enrichment program placed a little over 25 teacher candidates at Liberty Middle School and Kelly-Pharr Elementary to give them hands-on classroom experience before the school year.

The program, the speaker said, pairs corps members with campus teachers so they can “mirror some of the experiences those teachers will need when they have their own classroom,” moving from theory to practice on classroom management and teacher leadership ahead of August placements.

The corps member described the summer work as preparation rather than a standalone credential, saying: “We're working on becoming new teachers and preparing for August. ... It's really exciting that in PSJA we have over 20 former teacher members who continue to teach in the school district.” That number of alumni, the speaker said, includes individuals who now serve as mentor teachers for current participants.

Program leaders, according to the speaker, frame Teach for America’s role as adding capacity and collaborating with the district to support its mission. The speaker said they provide feedback to student teachers, noting both strengths and areas for improvement observed in the classroom.

Speaking from a personal perspective, the corps member said this is their third year with the program and described watching new members grow from nervousness to leading instruction and feeling comfortable with students and campus staff. The speaker also emphasized a local connection to the Rio Grande Valley, saying they returned to the region to “help out the students.”

The presentation focused on training and mentorship; no formal actions or decisions were recorded during the remarks. The program, as described by the speaker, aims to increase local teacher capacity by supporting new teachers through in-class coaching and pairing with experienced alumni.