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Teach For America and the Aspen Institute Partner to Support Leadership Opportunities for Rural Educators

The Aspen Institute’s Policy Academy will design custom courses for educational leaders learning how to advance solutions in their communities

New York, NY, October 23, 2025—Teach For America (TFA), a national education nonprofit and leadership development organization, has announced a new partnership with the Aspen Institute’s Policy Academy to expand leadership training for rural educators. This collaboration enhances TFA’s Rural School Leadership Academy (RSLA)—a yearlong fellowship now in its 13th year—by introducing a four-part policy impact series. Developed by the Aspen Policy Academy, the series will equip fellows with the tools to lead instructional and operational improvements in their schools and communities, while building the skills to influence broader solutions at the state and national levels.

RSLA supports rural educators who are committed to staying and growing in the communities they serve. Each year, a cohort of fellows are selected to join a national network of peers who receive career development support with learning tracks tailored to their roles. Through an immersion of virtual learning, in-person gatherings, rural school visits, and personalized coaching, the program provides educators at every stage—from aspiring leaders to experienced principals—with the tools, confidence, and relationships needed to develop solutions within their communities.

“The heart of rural schools lies in the leaders who choose to stay and invest in their communities,” said Casey DeFord, Managing Director of Alumni Career Advancement & Field Integration, Teach For America. “RSLA was created to walk alongside those leaders—helping them grow, connect, and see what’s possible. Our partnership with the Aspen Institute will deepen RSLA’s impact by equipping fellows with the policy skills needed to drive lasting change.”

This year, the new policy series will further amplify 70 fellows’ leadership skills by providing policy training designed to connect classroom realities to district-and state-level decision-making. Past fellows expressed a strong desire to influence the systems that shape opportunities for rural students, and this partnership aims to help them achieve long-term sustainable impact in that effort.

Betsy Cooper, Director of the Aspen Policy Academy, emphasized the importance of the partnership:

“We believe rural educators bring deep wisdom and lived experience to the table. This partnership will enable educators to address unique challenges in their schools through policy entrepreneurship. By learning how to navigate the policy landscape, they will gain the insight and resources they need to create long-term sustainable impact.”

Each program participant will earn a co-branded certificate of leadership development from the Aspen Institute’s Policy Academy and Teach For America following completion of all professional development learning modules and activities. 

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About Teach For America

Teach For America works in partnership with communities across the country to reach One Day when every child has access to an excellent education. Founded in 1990, Teach For America finds, develops, and supports a growing network of leaders who expand opportunity for children from classrooms, schools, and every sector and field that impact a young person’s education. Today, Teach For America is a force of over 70,000 alumni, corps members, and Ignite fellows working in pursuit of profound change so that one day every child has the opportunity to learn, lead, thrive, and co-create a future filled with possibility. Teach For America is a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Threads.

About the Aspen Policy Academy 

The Aspen Institute’s Policy Academy helps community leaders and experts across the political spectrum elevate their voices, influence key decisions, and strengthen democracy from the ground up. The Academy’s innovative training programs and resources equip people across sectors – from tech to the environment, science to civic engagement – with the skills to shape critical policy efforts. The Academy is the first comprehensive, non-university training program in the United States offering a step-by-step process to learn practical strategies for policymaking. The Policy Academy has trained thousands of leaders, helping them gain government experience and successfully change policies across federal and state governments.  Contact us at aspenpolicyacademy@aspeninstitute.org or visit www.aspenpolicyacademy.org to learn more about how we can partner to build a future in which anyone can impact policy!