Eligibility

Community members, including but not limited to TFA alumni, are invited to apply to the Lab.

Community members (TFA alumni or otherwise) who are currently living and working in the TFA region are eligible to apply to the Lab through the Rooted Track.

TFA alumni who are interested to relocate to the region are eligible to apply to the Lab through the Relocation Track. The Relocation Track is only open to TFA alumni at this time.

We are dedicated to building Lab cohorts that represent the rich diversity of communities we serve across Central Appalachia — across lines of identity, experience, geography, and industry. In particular, we are committed to empowering voices that have been traditionally marginalized. If you are a person of color, from a low-income background, and/or a first generation college graduate, you are especially encouraged to apply.

If you are…

  • equipped with a vision for how you would uniquely contribute toward TFA Appalachia’s 2030 goal as a Lab member

  • a seasoned systems-change leader who is professionally ready to refine and act on your personal theory of change

  • comfortable pursuing both self-directed, asynchronous learning alongside learning in group spaces

  • prepared to anticipate and articulate your own leadership development needs

 

And you are…

  • oriented toward continuously challenging and expanding your understanding of regional assets and barriers

  • excited about the magic that can happen in the space between borders in disciplines, geographies and lived experiences

  • eager to grow deep roots in a Central Appalachian community

  • committed to working in partnership with local leaders and community members

  • ready to contribute to shifting national narratives to the power, possibility and potential of the region

this may just be your dream opportunity.

 

  • Anyone who currently lives and works in the TFA Appalachia region (and is committed to doing so for the next 3 years) is eligible to apply to the Lab through the Rooted Track, with the following exceptions:

    • Individuals who have donated over $5,000 in this fiscal year to Teach For America are not eligible

    • Regular Teach For America employees are not eligible

    Please note that the Relocation Track is only available for TFA alumni at this time.

  • Any TFA alumnus who successfully completed their corps commitment and is willing to commit to living and working for three years in the TFA Appalachia region is eligible to apply to the Lab, with the following exceptions:

    • Current Teach For America Mountain Teacher Fellows are not eligible to apply for CALL until their MTF term has concluded

    • Individuals who have donated over $5,000 in this fiscal year to Teach For America are not eligible

    • Regular Teach For America employees are not eligible

    TFA alumni already living and working in the region will apply through the Rooted Track, while those who wish to relocate to the region will apply through the Relocation Track.

Click on the plus icons below to read more about eligibility.

Click on the plus icons below to read more about eligibility and expectations of CALL members.

  • There is no preferred career path, sector, or industry for accepted members. As part of our systems change orientation, we maintain that the region will require a robust pipeline of top talent across many sectors, industries, and career paths in order to achieve both TFA Appalachia’s 2030 goal and the region’s aspired bright future. We are excited to recruit seasoned leaders from any sector or industry who will refine and act on personal theories of change in pursuit of our region’s 2030 goal. Check out our current cohort of CALL members for more information about the 2022 cohort.

  • In partnership with our TFA Appalachia team, a subset of our regional Executive Advisory Board and community leaders will review applications, aiming to build a cohort representing rich and robust diversity across identities, professional experiences, skill sets, perspectives, and strengths. This group will be looking for alignment with Teach For America’s core values, applied in the context of potential members’ contributions here in Central Appalachia. The below competencies will be evaluated, both in the initial application and interview processes:

    • Pursue Equity

    • Strengthen Community

    • Achieve Impact

    • Choose Courage

    • Act with Humility

    • Demonstrate Resilience

    • Learn Continuously

    We are excited to recruit seasoned leaders who will refine and act on personal theories of change in pursuit of TFA Appalachia’s 2030 goal. To do so, we expect that successful CALL members will continuously challenge and expand their understanding of regional assets and barriers, grow deep roots in their communities and work in partnership with local leaders and community members, and contribute to shifting national narratives to the power, possibility and potential of our region.

    Check out our current cohort of CALL members for more information about the 2022 cohort.

  • There is no minimum number of years of professional experience required to apply (beyond the successful completion of TFA corps commitment, for TFA alums). However, this program is designed to support seasoned systems-change leaders who are professionally ready to refine and act on personal theories of change.

    There will be opportunity to engage in learning and networking with other members in the cohort, but much of the leadership development work will be pursued in a self-directed, asynchronous way. As such, successful candidates will be able to anticipate and articulate their leadership development needs.

    Successful fellows will also be able to anticipate and articulate how their contributions as a CALL member would uniquely contribute toward TFA Appalachia’s 2030 goal (see the Personal Statements section of the Application Components page for more detail).