TFA Detroit

Say hi to some of the EmpowerEd Weekend team 👋🏻

Today, we came together for a focused planning session, working in groups to define success, update milestones, and align on priorities for the weeks ahead.

Each team named key decisions, dependencies, and the conversations needed to stay on track. This level of coordination is what brings the full experience together.

We’re officially 3 weeks out, and next week we’ll be sharing the program booklet with a closer look at what’s ahead.

In the meantime, you can get a sneak peek at the programming here:
https://teachmi.org/get-involved/empowered-weekend-spring-2026/

Reading Month may be over, but we’re still celebrating student voice through Detroit Writes Detroit!

This piece, “A Superhero Rising Above Challenges,” by Joshua R. at Cook STEM Academy, shares a powerful perspective on ADHD, not as a limitation, but as a strength.

“My superpower is ADHD.”

It’s a reminder that every student’s journey looks different, and that there is power in embracing who you are.

We’re also celebrating this work with a giveaway happening over on our Instagram (). Be sure to check it out!

As March comes to a close, we’re celebrating Reading Month by uplifting the voices of Detroit students through Detroit Writes Detroit.

This piece, “We Can Rise Together,” by Roderic P. (Davis Aerospace Technical High School at Golightly), shows how growth happens step by step, with the support of family, school, and community along the way.

It’s a reminder that no one rises alone, we grow through the people who support and believe in us. 💛

We’re also doing a Detroit Writes Detroit giveaway this week over on our Instagram pages ( + ) in partnership with local bookstores. Be sure to check it out for a chance to win a copy of the book and a gift card to a local bookstore!

Teacher retention isn’t just a workforce issue, it’s a student outcomes issue.

Last week, Michigan leaders across policy, practice, and research came together to answer one question:
What will it take to keep great teachers in the classrooms that need them most?

In Michigan:
• Teacher shortages have increased by 40%
• Under-resourced communities are most impacted by turnover
• Experience remains one of the strongest predictors of student success

We were proud to be part of this conversation alongside leaders across the state, including:
• Armen Hratchian, Executive Director, Teach For America Detroit
• Lawrence Hood, CEO, Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences (Systems Leader Fellow)
• Kevin Polston, Superintendent, Kentwood Public Schools (Systems Leader Fellow)
• Kelli Brozanski, Director, Office of Educator Excellence, MDE
• Venessa Keesler, President & CEO, Launch Michigan

Each brought perspective on how policy and practice must work together to strengthen educator retention.

The conversation was moderated by Madeline Mavrogordato of EPIC, helping connect research to action across Michigan.

The takeaway was clear:
We’ve invested in recruitment.
Now it’s time to invest in retention.
Because retaining great educators isn’t just about filling roles.
It’s about ensuring students have consistent access to high-quality teaching.

Big bets. Clear priorities.

This week, our team came together to get aligned on what it will take to accelerate progress toward our 2030 goal.

We grounded in our goals, refined our vision, and identified the big bets needed to move the work forward, across every team:
Corps Member, Educator Program, Participant Experience, Development, District Partnerships, External Affairs, and Strategy, Team Experience & Operations.

More than anything, it was a moment to strengthen alignment, deepen collaboration, and move forward with clarity and shared ownership.

Because real progress happens when strong teams move in the same direction.

Just five months ago, our team was in Detroit wrapping up EmpowerEd Weekend.

A lot goes into creating spaces where educators and school leaders from across Michigan can come together to connect, share ideas, and learn from one another. EmpowerEd Weekend is about building those moments, where classroom educators, principals, and district leaders can step away from their day-to-day work and strengthen the impact they’re having in their schools and communities.

This spring, we’re excited to gather again, this time in Traverse City.

This year’s theme, Make It Count, is a reminder that every moment educators and leaders spend supporting students matters. Every lesson, every opportunity, and every decision helps shape what’s possible for young people.

📅 EmpowerEd Weekend | Traverse City | May 1–2

Last week, TeachMichigan System Leader Fellows traveled to Mississippi for a retreat focused on learning, connection, and leadership.

The experience began with a welcome from Kewanza Williams, Executive Director of Teach For America Greater Delta, followed by a powerful conversation with Rachel Canter unpacking the policy and practice behind Mississippi’s literacy progress.
Throughout the retreat, fellows had the opportunity to learn directly from educators and leaders in the field. Highlights included dinner and conversation with Dr. Errick Greene, Superintendent of Jackson Public Schools, and school visits that brought fellows inside classrooms in Jackson Public Schools and Sunflower County Schools, where they witnessed the work of incredible educators and school teams serving their communities.

Experiences like these are about more than observing systems, they are about learning from leaders who are doing the work every day and bringing those insights back to strengthen schools and communities across Michigan.

Grateful to the Mississippi educators and leaders who opened their doors and shared their expertise.

Tonight, Michigan will hear the State of the State address.

Today, 10 TeachMichigan Fellows and three Superintendents are at the Capitol bringing classroom perspective directly into conversations with state leaders.

In meetings with legislators, the State Superintendent, and members of the Governor’s Office, our fellows shared what it truly means to teach in Michigan today, why they’ve chosen to serve their communities, how they continue to strengthen their craft, and the meaningful progress happening inside their classrooms and schools.

They visited the offices of Sen. Darrin Camilleri, Sen. Sarah Anthony, Sen. Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, Sen. John Damoose, Rep. Nancy DeBoer, Rep. Parker Fairbairn, Rep. Tim Kelly, and Rep. John Roth, and connected with Glenn Malyeko and Governor’s Office staff at the Romney Building.

When practicing educators help shape the conversation, Michigan’s education system grows stronger.

When educators lead, students thrive, and Michigan moves forward.

Stay connected as we continue elevating educator voice across the state.

Emily Witte always believed in the power of teaching. What she didn’t expect was how much her students and colleagues would shape the leader she would become.

Now an Instructional Coach at Blair Elementary, Emily supports teachers by staying rooted in classrooms, building trust, and creating space for educators to reflect, grow, and feel seen. Her leadership reminds us that strong schools are built through relationships and shared responsibility.

📍 Blair Elementary | Traverse City
🍎 2023 TeachMichigan Aspiring Leader Fellow

Read Emily’s full story here: https://teachmi.org/from-the-classroom-to-the-collective-how-emily-witte-leads-with-teachers-at-the-center/

A little reset for your timeline.

Last Thursday, students and families across Detroit came together for Detroit Writes Detroit, sharing their stories, reflections, and voices through writing.

There’s something powerful about watching young people step forward with confidence and clarity. These moments remind us why student voice matters and why creating space for expression is so important.

We’ll be posting more from Detroit Writes Detroit soon, but for now, enjoy this glimpse into a day centered on creativity, courage, and community.