Teach For China
Encyclopedia
Teach For China is an international
non-profit organization
that seeks to eliminate educational inequity in China
by enlisting promising future leaders from China
and the United States
in the effort. In the short term, the organization aspires for its Fellows to improve their student's educational prospects. In the long term, the organization aspires for its Fellows to work from across sectors to expand educational opportunity in China
and the United States
using the skills and insight developed as teachers.
at Princeton University
. With a background in Chinese rural reform policies and experience as director of Princeton University’s
Interact Program, he turned his attention towards rural China during a year of study at Tsinghua University
. While there, he met (Co-CEO) Rachel Wasser, a graduate of Yale University
with research experience in Chinese non-profit culture and governance. Andrea and Rachel began working together to create the China Education Initiative in 2008. In 2010, coinciding with formal engagement in U.S. State Department's '100,000 Strong' program, the China Education Initiative was renamed Teach For China.
and China
to teach for two years in under-resourced schools in rural China
. The goal of Teach For China is not only to make a short-term impact on Fellows' students, but also to form a long-term movement that will ultimately create systemic change. Teach for China teachers, called Fellows, first undergo an intensive eight-week training program including pedagogy and Chinese language skills (for American Fellows). Following this training program, Fellows are placed in under-resourced schools in Yunnan
and Guangdong
provinces. Fellows are placed in teams of four, with two Chinese Fellows and two American Fellows at each school. At their schools, Teach For China Fellows are full-time members of the faculty and receive a salary commensurate to local teachers'. American Fellows typically teach English language, while Chinese Fellows teach other core subjects such as science, math, geography, and ethics. As part of its efforts to create a long-term movement for educational equality, Teach For China also runs an Alumni Impact program which works with former Fellows to help further their career development and position them as leaders in a variety of professional fields.
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that seeks to eliminate educational inequity in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
by enlisting promising future leaders from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the effort. In the short term, the organization aspires for its Fellows to improve their student's educational prospects. In the long term, the organization aspires for its Fellows to work from across sectors to expand educational opportunity in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
using the skills and insight developed as teachers.
History
Teach For China was founded in 2008 by Andrea Pasinetti and Rachel Wasser as the China Education Initiative. Andrea studied at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International AffairsWoodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs is a professional public policy school at Princeton University. The school has granted undergraduate A.B. degrees since 1930 and graduate degrees since 1948...
at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. With a background in Chinese rural reform policies and experience as director of Princeton University’s
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
Interact Program, he turned his attention towards rural China during a year of study at Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University , colloquially known in Chinese as Qinghua, is a university in Beijing, China. The school is one of the nine universities of the C9 League. It was established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua Xuetang" or "Tsinghua College" and was renamed the "Tsinghua School" one year later...
. While there, he met (Co-CEO) Rachel Wasser, a graduate of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
with research experience in Chinese non-profit culture and governance. Andrea and Rachel began working together to create the China Education Initiative in 2008. In 2010, coinciding with formal engagement in U.S. State Department's '100,000 Strong' program, the China Education Initiative was renamed Teach For China.
Model
Teach For China recruits recent college graduates and professionals from the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to teach for two years in under-resourced schools in rural China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The goal of Teach For China is not only to make a short-term impact on Fellows' students, but also to form a long-term movement that will ultimately create systemic change. Teach for China teachers, called Fellows, first undergo an intensive eight-week training program including pedagogy and Chinese language skills (for American Fellows). Following this training program, Fellows are placed in under-resourced schools in Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
and Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
provinces. Fellows are placed in teams of four, with two Chinese Fellows and two American Fellows at each school. At their schools, Teach For China Fellows are full-time members of the faculty and receive a salary commensurate to local teachers'. American Fellows typically teach English language, while Chinese Fellows teach other core subjects such as science, math, geography, and ethics. As part of its efforts to create a long-term movement for educational equality, Teach For China also runs an Alumni Impact program which works with former Fellows to help further their career development and position them as leaders in a variety of professional fields.
Organizational Growth & Expansion Plans
Teach For China has grown substantially since its inception in 2008, with the aim of placing 1,000 Fellows in under-resourced schools by 2015. Additionally, the organization has plans to expand into Hebei Province. The table below displays Teach For China's growth over its first 3 years working in schools. Each fellow reaches an average 150 students.| Year | Total # of Fellows |
# of students reached |
Region(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 20 | 3,000 | Yunnan Yunnan Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with... |
| 2010 | 56 | 8,400 | Yunnan Yunnan Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with... |
| 2011 | 165 | 24,750 | Yunnan Yunnan Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with... , Guangdong Guangdong Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province... |
Board Of Directors
- Caroline Cai Jinqing, partner at Brunswick Group
- Peter Geithner, Advisor at Harvard University Asia CenterHarvard University Asia CenterThe Harvard University Asia Center is an interdisciplinary research and education unit of Harvard University, established on July 1, 1997, with the goal of "driving varied programs focusing on international relations in Asia and comparative studies of Asian countries and regions and supplementing...
- Hua Xinghong, Managing Director of Cerberus Capital ManagementCerberus Capital ManagementCerberus Capital Management, L.P. is one of the largest private equity investment firms in the United States. The firm is based in New York City, and run by -year-old financier Steve Feinberg. Former U.S...
, Asia - Peter Lighte, Chairman of JPMorgan Chase Bank, China
- Dee Poon, Director of Y.L. Yang-Esquel Education Foundation, Hong Kong
- Sharon Ruwart, Director of Corporate Affiars, Asia Pacific for Mars, IncorporatedMars, IncorporatedMars, Incorporated is a worldwide manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products with US$30 billion in annual sales in 2010, and is ranked as the 5th largest privately held company in the United States by Forbes. Headquartered in McLean, unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia,...
- Sun Zhe, Director of the Center for US-China Relations, Tsinghua UniversityTsinghua UniversityTsinghua University , colloquially known in Chinese as Qinghua, is a university in Beijing, China. The school is one of the nine universities of the C9 League. It was established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua Xuetang" or "Tsinghua College" and was renamed the "Tsinghua School" one year later...
- Wang JisiWang JisiProf. Wang Jisi is Dean of the School of International Studies at Peking University. In the 2010-11 academic year he is a visiting scholar at Princeton University.Wang also serves on the Board of Directors of the nonprofit Teach For China....
, Director of the School of International Studies, Peking UniversityPeking UniversityPeking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the... - Mei Zhang, Executive Director of Goldman SachsGoldman SachsThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
Executive Office, Hong Kong
Supporters
- Ford FoundationFord FoundationThe Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
- Li Ka Shing FoundationLi Ka Shing FoundationThe Li Ka Shing Foundation is a Hong Kong and Canada-based charitable organization founded in 1980 by Hong Kong entrepreneur and philanthropist Li Ka Shing, with a mission to nurture "a culture of giving" in society...
- Henry Luce Foundation
- Goldman SachsGoldman SachsThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
- The Swire Trust
- The River Star Foundation
- Fu Tak Iam Foundation
- Yan'Ai Foundation
- Chen Yet-Sen Family FoundationChen Yet-Sen Family FoundationThe Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation is a Hong Kong administered charitable institution with a strategic focus on childhood literacy. It works closely with a variety of non-profit organizations to help them implement “innovative” and “cost effective” programmes....
- Esquel Group
- Guangzhou R&F Properties
- RedWorks
- Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
- Mozilla Online Ltd.Mozilla FoundationThe Mozilla Foundation is a non-profit organization that exists to support and provide leadership for the open source Mozilla project. The organization sets the policies that govern development, operates key infrastructure and controls trademarks and other intellectual property...
- Brunswick CorporationBrunswick CorporationThe Brunswick Corporation , formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, is a United States-based corporation that has been involved in manufacturing a wide variety of products since 1845. Brunswick's global headquarters is in the northern Chicago suburb of Lake Forest, Illinois...
- KPMGKPMGKPMG is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PwC. Its global headquarters is located in Amstelveen, Netherlands....
Affiliated Organizations & Programs
- Teach For AmericaTeach For AmericaTeach For America is an American non-profit organization that aims to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting the nation's most promising future leaders to teach for two or more years in low-income communities throughout the United States...
- Teach For AllTeach For AllTeach For All is an international non-profit organization. The organization coordinates a network of over a dozen non-profits from across the globe; all the non-profits are united under a common mission of providing an excellent education to all students while simultaneously building a movement for...
- 100,000 Strong Initiative
- Teach FirstTeach FirstTeach First is an independent educational charity United Kingdom, Reg. No. 1098294, founded in 2002. Its mission is to address educational disadvantage by transforming exceptional graduates into effective, inspirational teachers and leaders in all fields...