Teach For America - Twin Cities

Regional Staff Spotlight: Marcus Berg (Twin Cities ‘19)

Marcus is a proud 2019 Twin Cities corps member whose deep passion for serving young people and supporting educators continues to shape his leadership journey. He joined the Teach For America Twin Cities team in October 2025 after serving as Middle School Dean at Breck School.

In his role as Manager of Leadership Development, Marcus has quickly become a powerful source of support and encouragement for Corps Members as they grow into impactful educators across our region. His leadership reflects a strong commitment to developing others, fostering community, and advancing educational opportunities for all students.

We are grateful to have Marcus's leadership, dedication, and belief in the potential of every child as part of the Twin Cities team.

Join TFA for a Series on Reflection, Healing, and Connection ✨✨

Join us for a series of virtual somatic and dialogical experiences designed to support reflection, connection, and healing during times of change. Open to corps members, alumni, staff, and partners.

Click here to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFtLAzksALfTIa14QvHxuU4sAntP3-BdFhtfyQ-87Z73rLew/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Congratulations to Our Tier 3 License-Recommended Corps Members!

We are excited to announce that our first wave of corps members has earned a Teach Minnesota Teaching Fellows recommendation for their Tier 3 license from the Minnesota Department of Education! Our corps members are committed to ensuring that students receive the education they deserve by continuously equipping themselves with the right tools, resources, and training. We are incredibly proud of their growth as educators — a milestone that further advances our mission of providing an excellent education for all students across the Twin Cities.

Save the date and join us at the ballpark for the New Corps Members Welcoming Event!

Join us in welcoming our newest TFA Twin Cities corps members over an afternoon of baseball, great food, and community connection as the St. Paul Saints take on Indianapolis! ⚾

Event starts at 12:30 PM! Please plan to arrive at this time.

Key Details:
- What: St. Paul Saints Game
- When: Sunday, June 7th, 2026
- Gates Open at 12:30 PM
- Time: Game Time First Pitch: 2:07 PM
- Food buffet from 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
- Where: CHS Field / The Gallery inside the field

Let us know if you plan to attend by registering here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7AYuDZP4NQdLS34vnwLeg2muo4pTUIrBcvzowEpMGq1I6QQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor

We look forward to seeing you at the ballpark!

TFA’s 35th Anniversary Summit is Approaching!

Join thousands of alumni, educators, leaders, and partners for TFA’s 35th Anniversary Summit — a celebration of our shared legacy and a chance to shape what comes next. 🎉

Connect and celebrate across generations, communities, and sectors. Learn from innovative thinkers in and beyond K-12 education. Affirm your purpose, embrace our bold vision for the future, and commit to meaningful actions that drive lasting impact in our community. 💡🌍

Click the following link to learn more about the event and registration:
https://www.events.teachforamerica.org/35years/page/5482598/registration

Learn About our Alumni Board!

Are you looking to grow your connection to the local TFA community, help shape alumni programming, and strengthen community partnerships? TFA Twin Cities’ Alumni Board might be the right opportunity for you?

As a TFA Alumni Board member, you will play a meaningful role in mentoring emerging alumni leaders, cultivating leadership pathways, and ensuring TFA Twin Cities remains responsive to the needs and priorities of our local communities.

Board officer positions are eligible for stipends of up to $300.
If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please fill out an interest form today!

Interest Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScq_Ao7KZtSYswva6YRqJcSg9mMT4f1MEx6g6po_apyUtYInw/viewform?usp=header

This past week, we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week by highlighting stories of resilience in the midst of uncertainty, as well as stories of recognition and celebration. We also recognize that acknowledging the vital contributions of our teachers to student success is not a one-week moment, but rather a recognition that must happen each and every day.

From celebrating our 1st and 2nd year corps members and alumni, we seek to elevate their stories — not only as teachers, but as individuals. Incredible individuals who chose to prioritize their community, their own growth, and their commitment to serving students across the Twin Cities region and beyond.

We are honored to have had the opportunity to celebrate you — the alumni, the corps member, and all teachers across the country who choose a life of service so that every student may one day receive an excellent education.

During this Teacher Appreciation Week, we extend our gratitude to our panelists, changemakers, and session facilitators from our Choose The Twin Cities event:

- Mikisha Nation, Executive Director, TFA Twin Cities
- Anne Soto, Executive Director, World Savvy
- Courtney Bell-Duncan, Ph.D., Senior Director of Collective Impact, Black Men Teach
- Joshua Crosson, MBA, Executive Director, EdAllies
- Michael Yates, Senior Designer, Reinvention Lab, TFA
- Mercedes McKay, Executive Director, Teach Minnesota Teaching Fellows
- Anna McNulty Taylor, Ph.D., Professor, University of Minnesota
- Hasini Guntipalli, Representative & - Committee Chair, Minnesota Youth Council

We were honored to welcome these incredible leaders and changemakers from the field of education to our Choose the Twin Cities event. Each leader offered a unique perspective on how to set students up for success both inside and outside the classroom, as well as how to engage with our community while navigating new challenges. These impactful leaders reminded us of the power of belief, the importance of challenging ourselves, and the collective strength we all hold — the strength that makes our work possible and moves our mission forward.

Teacher Appreciation Week: Supporting Students Beyond the Classroom During Difficult Times

Like many teachers across the country, our corps members show up each and every day ensuring that students have the support they need to succeed. Our corps members are also attuned to the external factors that affect a child’s learning — factors that often originate outside the classroom. This year, our corps members stepped up to provide additional support for the Twin Cities community within their respective schools as families navigated a tumultuous period for our immigrant communities.

Corps members play a key role in ensuring that students and families feel truly supported and heard, especially during difficult times.

Our Corps Member Lizzie Campion (Twin Cities ‘24) shared her perspective on what it means to support students during a time of uncertainty:

“Beyond academics, I had the opportunity to support our campus social workers in organizing a food drive for our families. We collected canned goods and coordinated distribution in ways that met families’ needs — whether through pickup, sending items home with students, or delivering directly to their homes. We also raised funds to support families with rent, particularly for those who felt unsafe going to work. Maintaining consistent communication with students and families was a key part of ensuring they felt supported.

This experience taught me a great deal. As a first-year teacher, I have been very focused on rigorous instruction and using data to guide my decisions. However, recent events reinforced the importance of prioritizing the whole child. Students cannot fully engage or grow academically if they do not feel safe, supported, and valued. This experience strengthened my commitment to listening to students, offering flexibility, and creating space for them to express their needs.”

Thank you to all our teachers who continue to go above and beyond for their students and community.