A Framework for Evaluating Teach for America Alumni Networks

Alumni networks are commonly known for “networking” opportunities that facilitate member access to jobs or avenues for career advancement. Many organizations and alumni, especially those working to bring about systems change, have realized that collectively, networked alums also have the power to drive broader impact. Teach For America (TFA) is exploring how alumni networks can be leveraged to increase progress towards educational equity by gaining a better understanding of how to assess the impact of their alumni network strategy. TFA’s overarching model includes a core network-building component that supports and fosters community among alumni throughout their lifetime, as their careers take shape.

TFA partnered with Network Impact to explore what regional alumni networks could learn through network evaluation. This paper summarizes discussions at the convening and proposes a methodology for answering questions about the potential and impact of TFA regional networks through network evaluation. the teach fo America Team then created an interactive Toolkit.