1 Percent

I saw recently that the ASU/GSV Summit, a conference for educators along with ed tech folks, is going to award Wendy Kopp their Lifetime Achievement Award this coming April. As many of you are aware, Ms. Kopp started Teach for America, an organization which invites recent college graduates to sign on to a two-year hitch to teach in some of America’s toughest schools.

I don’t know Wendy Kopp personally, but I do have some experience with Teach for America during my time as a public school administrator and an educational non-profit leader.

I do remember one night many years ago when I was seated in a Houston hotel banquet room as the audience was getting ready to celebrate Teacher for America’s 20-year anniversary placing teachers inside that city’s classrooms.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised that evening, as the Houston rich had supported TFA from the start in the Bayou City. The Houston rich continued to support Kopp’s organization throughout the years, and the 20^th anniversary was special to them. I watched the big screen as the donated amount continued to go higher and higher.

After the money was raised, Kopp was invited to the dais to make a few remarks. After thanking the crowd for an amazing evening of fundraising, Ms. Kopp shared how proud she was of the impact TFA had made across Houston. I sat in anticipation to hear more of that story.

Kopp told the crowd that over the last 20 years, TFA had averaged around 100 placements in Houston’s public schools. The Houston rich yelled “hooray”. Ms. Kopp told the audience how proud she was that around 2,000 TFA classroom teachers assisted Houston in its efforts to provide equity for all kids, especially those who were black, brown, and poor.

As she continued to speak, I started to do some math in my head. At that time, there were around 10,000 teachers employed by the Houston public school system. Over 20 years, if a superintendent wanted to, he or she could have had the option to replace, as in hiring or firing, 200,000 teachers. Kopp and TFA were celebrating the fact that they had contributed 2,000 hires to the potential 200,000 number.

That’s 1% market penetration.

1%.

At the end of Kopp’s speech, the crowd leaped to its feet and cheered. Houston’s rich was convinced that Kopp’s organization, Teacher for America, had made a huge difference in the lives of Houston’s children, and they should be rewarded for that difference.

I walked to my car shaking my head.

This is what the ASU/GSV conference wrote about Wendy Kopp in their recently media release:

“Every year, GSV honors remarkable individuals whose lives have profoundly impacted the world for good. This year, our proverbial ‘hallowed halls’ of venerable and innovative honorees welcomes the CEO and co-founder of Teach For All and founder of Teach For America, Wendy Kopp.”

“Wendy’s vision has transformed classrooms and empowered leaders across the globe. Her tireless determination – grounded in partnership, responding to community needs, and a promise to students and communities – makes her easy to honor with the GSV Lifetime Achievement Award.”

“Wendy has created an acclaimed network of independent organizations that cultivate their nations’ promising future leaders and ensure their most marginalized children have the chance to fulfill their true potential. She has driven systems-level change in collaboration with those who have experienced what is possible and what is needed within their communities.”

“In 2008 Wendy Kopp was awarded that second-highest civilian award in America, the Presidential Citizens Medal. In 2021 Wendy was awarded the WISE Prize for Education for creating Teach For All and her dedication to creating meaningful, sustainable education change and developing leaders who are rooted in their communities, transforming them to foster the opportunities all children deserve.”

“While Wendy Kopp’s vision may have started in the classroom, it has inspired and changed the path for millions of people – improving outcomes, expanding opportunities for students, and catalyzing leaders to effect change in their communities to shape a better future for ALL.”

1% market penetration in Houston over 20 years.

Like I said, I don’t know Wendy Kopp. But I do know how desperate America is to find success, any success, when it comes to improving our educational system. I also know how something like TFA falls into the “pay for success” business between the traditional school system and outside vendors I wrote about yesterday.

I guess ASU/GSV can give its Lifetime Achievement Award to anyone they choose. It’s their award.

I just don’t know if 1% market penetration over 20 years, to help Houston’s black, brown, and poor children get smarter and stronger, gets you a Lifetime Achievement Award.

I’ll be away until April 6^th. SVB