Wendy Kopp

Last updated
Wendy Kopp
Wendy Kopp - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012.jpg
Kopp in 2012
Born
Wendy Sue Kopp

(1967-06-29) June 29, 1967 (age 57)
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Education Princeton University (BA)

Wendy Kopp (born June 29, 1967) is the CEO and co-founder of Teach For All, a global network of independent nonprofit organizations working to develop collective leadership to ensure all children have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

Contents

Before launching Teach For All in 2007, Wendy founded and led Teach For America (TFA), a national teaching corps, which has proven to be an unparalleled source of long-term leadership for expanding opportunity for children in the United States – for 24 years. Wendy led the development of Teach For All to be responsive to the initiative of social entrepreneurs around the world who were determined to adapt this approach in their own countries.

Background

Wendy Kopp attended Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas and later was an undergraduate in the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton in 1989 and was a member of Princeton's Business Today and the University Press Club.

Teach For All

Wendy Kopp co-founded Teach For All in 2007, informed by insights gleaned working alongside leaders from across the globe who deeply understand their local needs, creating a network of independent organizations addressing their community’s education needs. Teach For All was created to support and respond to the efforts of passionate social entrepreneurs around the world who sought to adapt this model within their own countries. This network of independent organizations cultivates their nations’ promising future leaders and ensures their most marginalized children have the chance to fulfil their true potential. [1]

Teach For All has partners in more than 60 countries, working everywhere from Afghanistan and Armenia to Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe. In 2024, 15,000 Teach For All network teachers collectively reached 1.3 million students. [2]

Teach For America

In 1989, Kopp introduced the idea for Teach For America in her 177-page senior thesis, titled "An Argument and Plan for the Creation of the Teachers Corps," written under the guidance of Marvin Bressler. [3] [4] She was convinced that many in her generation were searching for a way to assume a significant responsibility that would make a real difference in the world and that top college students would choose teaching over more lucrative opportunities if a prominent teacher corps existed. [5]

Shortly after graduating from Princeton, Kopp founded Teach For America. In 1990, 500 recent college graduates joined Teach For America's charter corps. [6]

In 2013, Kopp transitioned out of the role of CEO of Teach For America. [7]

Kopp chronicled her experiences at Teach For America in two books: One Day, All Children: The Unlikely Triumph of Teach For America and What I Learned Along the Way and A Chance To Make History: What Works and What Doesn't in Providing an Excellent Education For All .

Personal life

Wendy Kopp is married to Richard Barth. They have four children and live in Manhattan. [8]

Awards

Honorary doctorates
Awards

Wendy Kopp is the recipient of numerous awards, including:

Trivia

On February 5, 2007, Kopp appeared on The Colbert Report . [16]

Published works

References

  1. 1 2 "Teach For All Co-Founder, Wendy Kopp, Named 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient". www.asugsvsummit.com. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
  2. ↑ Thomas, Ian (2025-02-24). "Wendy Kopp". CNBC. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
  3. ↑ Patel, Ushma, Marvin Bressler, sociologist, education pioneer and mentor, dies Archived 2017-05-09 at the Wayback Machine , News at Princeton, Princeton University, July 9, 2010 12:42 p.m. ET. Retrieved 2010-10-21.
  4. ↑ Kopp, Wendy S. Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs (ed.). "An Argument and Plan for the Creation of the Teachers Corps". Archived from the original on 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2020-05-27.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ↑ "Kopp Named MHC Commencement Speaker". 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-06-02. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
  6. ↑ "Our History". Archived from the original on 2015-04-07. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  7. ↑ "Teach For America Founder Voted Chair of the Board". 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-03-27. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  8. ↑ Gootman, Elissa (2011-04-10). "No Breakfast, but Bagels for Lunch". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
  9. ↑ "2021 WISE Prize for Education presented to Wendy Kopp". www.qf.org.qa. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
  10. ↑ Skoll.org (2009-05-01). Wendy Kopp (Teach For All) - 2009 Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship . Retrieved 2025-04-21– via YouTube.
  11. ↑ "Wendy Kopp wins Presidential Citizens Medal". The New Service. 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
  12. ↑ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement. Archived from the original on 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  13. ↑ "2006 Summit Highlights Photo". Archived from the original on 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2021-01-08. Summit Host George Lucas congratulates Wendy Kopp, founder and President of Teach for America, on receiving the Gold Medal of the Academy of Achievement during the 2006 International Achievement Summit in Los Angeles.
  14. ↑ "National - Jefferson Awards Foundation". Jefferson Awards Foundation. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
  15. ↑ "Wendy Kopp, 1991 Echoing Green Fellow". 2012. Archived from the original on 2017-11-16. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  16. ↑ "Wendy Kopp Pays a Visit to the Colbert Nation". Archived from the original on 2007-03-29. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
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