Indian American educationist Aneesh Sohoni has been named the next chief executive officer of Teach For America (TFA), the nonprofit organization aiming to ensure all children have the opportunity to attain an excellent education.
Sohoni, the current CEO of One Million Degrees, will take over April 15 from Elisa Villanueva Beard, who is stepping down from the CEO role after 27 years with the organization, TFA announced Jan 13.
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“Following a comprehensive search for a strategic and visionary leader to build on Teach For America’s almost thirty-five years of impact with kids and communities across the country, the Board reached the unanimous decision that Aneesh Sohoni is the right person to lead Teach For America as chief executive officer,” said David Kenny, chair of the Teach For America Board of Directors and executive chairman at Nielsen.
“Aneesh has a vision for TFA, built on the momentum and collective leadership of TFA alumni, teachers, tutors, and staff, to move the organization forward with confidence and conviction, in partnership with over 300 communities across the country, to ensure all children have access to an excellent education.”
“As I take on the role of CEO of Teach For America, I am inspired by what is possible and hopeful that the current trajectory of education and learning in our country does not have to define our future,” said Sohoni. “We’ve seen communities defy the trends and create progress and opportunities for students, and I’m proud that TFA prioritizes coalition-building with students and community members to co-create and achieve a shared vision for a future that is brighter than today.
“Through the goals that local TFA executive directors and their teams have set in partnership with students, families and schools in their communities, my fellow TFA alumni, teachers and tutors are all working together to improve third grade reading and fourth and eighth grade math gains, and to increase the number of students who are college and career ready by 2030. I’m eager to get into even closer partnership in this work as I step into the CEO role.”
Sohoni is a Teach For America Twin Cities 2009 alumnus and former executive director of Teach For America Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana. Since 2021, Sohoni has been the chief executive officer of One Million Degrees, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating community college students’ progress on career pathways to economic mobility.
Under his leadership, One Million Degrees has been at the forefront of providing comprehensive academic, financial, personal and professional support to community college students, helping low-income students overcome barriers to graduation.
Sohoni has significantly expanded the organization’s reach and impact, improving retention, graduation rates, and long-term career success of participating students. During his tenure, their numbers have nearly quadrupled from 650 to 2,400.
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Inspired by his family’s immigrant story, Sohoni knows how access to educational opportunities can unlock a life full of possibility, according to a TFA release. It was his experience as a TFA corps member, working with his high school English students, that brought to life for Sohoni the limitless potential of students and the need to ensure all students have access to opportunities to meet their full potential.
Since his time as a classroom teacher, Sohoni has worked in the public and nonprofit sectors supporting education efforts, including with the Tennessee Department of Education and TNTP.