KIPP Co-Founder Mike Feinberg Returns to Chicago to Speak to Teach for America Supporters

PRLog (Press Release) – Feb 11, 2008 – CHICAGO, IL - Oak Park native Mike Feinberg, co-founder of the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) and Teach for America (TFA) alumni member returns to Chicago on Thursday, February 14, 2008 from 12:00 – 1:30 at the Motorola offices at 233 North Michigan Avenue to inspire future teachers to eliminate social inequity through high-quality teaching.

Feinberg will address an audience of 40 supporters, alumni, and corps members of Teach for America. He is currently superintendent of the KIPP schools in Houston, the educational reform movement he co-founded in 1994 with fellow TFA alumni member Dave Levin. Now entering its second decade, KIPP has become one of the nation's leaders in the movement to provide all children with access to an excellent public education. There are 57 KIPP schools across the country, all modeled after what was started in Houston. KIPP alumni are boasting an 85-90% college matriculation rate, which compares to the 10-15% rate found in their neighborhood high schools.

In a recent article in Forbes magazine, Feinberg said, “We aim to not only open more high-quality public schools across the country but also to have a transformative impact on the traditional school system. When FedEx started next-day mail, many predicted that the U.S. Postal Service would be unable to compete. Today, the Postal Service offers overnight mail. When KIPP reaches full size in Houston, we will be serving 10% of public school-age children in Houston, and, we hope, reach a ‘tipping point’ in public education.”

Teach For America was created to build a diverse, highly selective corps of top recent college graduates and professionals—individuals of all academic majors, career interests, and backgrounds—who commit two years to teach in low-income communities and become lifelong leaders in pursuit of educational excellence and equity. The Chicago corps is currently 230 strong, in 88 elementary, middle, and high schools across Chicago and Gary. Together, the Chicago corps impacts over 20,000 students. Ninety percent of Chicago corps members are placed in schools with other corps members or alumni. Over the next five years, the size of the Chicago corps is expected to double — further increasing the impact in Chicago.

KIPP Ascend Charter School in Chicago (www.kippascend.org), KIPP LEAD in Gary (www.kipplead.org), and Noble Network of Charter Schools (www.noblenetwork.org) will also be in attendance, as TFA alumni at these schools provide ongoing support for Teach for America – Chicago corps members.