Kauffman Foundation News (10/5/10): An Interview with Teach For America Founder Wendy Kopp

Ideas and Insights
This edition of Ideas at Work features an interview with Wendy Kopp on the movement to improve public education in America.

An Interview with Wendy Kopp
Founder
Teach For America

Teach For America is a New York-based organization that recruits and develops outstanding recent college graduates of all academic majors to commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools, and to become lifelong leaders in the effort to ensure educational opportunity for all children in our nation. A number of recent studies document the successes of Teach For America teachers in Louisiana, North Carolina, and New York City-helping to raise student achievement and outperforming other new teachers-and as the alumni force matures, there is increasing evidence of the organization’s long-term impact as well.

Teach For America was founded in 1990 by Wendy Kopp, who had graduated from Princeton the previous year (she first explored the idea of national teacher corps in her undergraduate thesis). She has remained the organization’s leader ever since, and today she is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on improving American education. In a September 2010 interview with the Kauffman Foundation, she answered questions on a number of subjects, including Teach For America’s growth, what she’s learned over the past twenty years, and how entrepreneurship fits with teaching. Read the full interview…>> http://www.kauffman.org/education/an-interview-with-wendy-kopp.aspx?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Opticast&utm_campaign=Ideas_At_Work_0910

More news from the Foundation:

Study Examines Causes for Firm Formation, Job Creation, and Economic Growth
A new study by the Kauffman Foundation reveals an important structural context in which firm formation and job creation occur. The research finds that while startups and young companies dominated net job creation in the United States for the last thirty years, this economic phenomenon occurs because of the patterns of firm formation and survival. Read more…>> http://www.kauffman.org/newsroom/causes-for-firm-formation-and-job-creation-reveal-keys-to-growing-economy.aspx

The Education They Deserve
A video produced by the Kauffman Foundation tells the story of Teach For America corps members in Kansas City working relentlessly to increase the academic achievement of their students. The full video…>> http://www.kauffman.org/KauffmanMultimedia.aspx?VideoId=83435757001&type=R?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Opticast&utm_campaign=Ideas_At_Work_0910

Douglas and Stolper Appointed to Kauffman Board of Trustees
Frank Douglas and Michael Stolper have been appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Kauffman Foundation. Both men have a long history of working with the Foundation and a full understanding of the Foundation’s vision and mission, based on Ewing Kauffman’s intent. Douglas, who previously served as a senior fellow for the Kauffman Foundation, is a highly respected industry veteran, with more than twenty-four years of experience in health care, pharmaceutical research, and biotechnology. Earlier in his career, Douglas was an associate with Ewing Kauffman’s company, Marion Laboratories. Stolper has been a financial and investment advisor to the Kauffman Foundation for many years. He also has been closely involved in the organizational evolution of the Foundation’s investment process, while broadening his interest to the grantmaking process. Read more…>> http://www.kauffman.org/newsroom/kauffman-foundation-elects-frank-douglas-and-michael-stolper-to-board-of-trustees.aspx?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Opticast&utm_campaign=Ideas_At_Work_0910

Kauffman Joins Effort to Address Humanity’s Grand Challenges
The Kauffman Foundation has joined with Singularity University to address global “grand challenges” with a focus on new models of entrepreneurship and technological innovation. Kauffman’s partnership supports the development of Singularity University programs, led by world-renowned faculty, to help students understand and harness the impact of exponential technologies. The Foundation joins Google, Autodesk, and ePlanet Ventures as Corporate Founder, providing key support for Singularity University’s efforts. Read more…>> http://www.kauffman.org/newsroom/kauffman-foundation-partners-with-singularity-university-as-corporate-founder.aspx?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Opticast&utm_campaign=Ideas_At_Work_0910

Infectious Talk Podcast Series Features Steve Blank
Steve Blank, a serial entrepreneur, professor, and author, joins Paul Kedrosky for the latest episode of Infectious Talk. They discuss the founding of Silicon Valley, and the reasons behind the region’s continued success. They also touch on Blank’s thoughts on lean startups and how to teach entrepreneurship. Link to the podcast…>> http://www.kauffman.org/InfectiousTalk/Blog/September,-2010/Conversation-with-Steve-Blank,-serial-entrepreneur.aspx

Forum to Foster High-Growth Clean Energy Innovation
The Kauffman Foundation along with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, and Arizona State University will co-host the Southwest Energy Innovation Forum at Arizona State University in October. The regional forum is part of a national effort to drive clean energy innovation and propel economic development and job creation in the United States. Read more…>> http://www.kauffman.org/newsroom/kauffman-foundation-arpa-e-and-arizona-state-university-to-host-southwest-energy-innovation-forum.aspx?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Opticast&utm_campaign=Ideas_At_Work_0910

Economic Researcher and Author Joins Kauffman Foundation
Brink Lindsey has joined the Kauffman Foundation as a senior scholar in research and policy. Lindsey will use his expertise in international trade, immigration, globalization, and economic development to identify the structural reforms needed to revive entrepreneurial innovation, firm formation, and job creation in the wake of the Great Recession. He joins the Foundation from the Cato Institute, where he served as vice president for research. Read more…>> http://www.kauffman.org/newsroom/brink-lindsey-joins-kauffman-foundation-as-senior-fellow.aspx?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Opticast&utm_campaign=Ideas_At_Work_0910