Wendy Sue Kopp (born June 29, 1967) is the CEO and co-founder of Teach For All, a global network of independent nonprofit organizations working to expand educational opportunity in their own countries and the Founder of Teach For America (TFA), a national teaching corps.
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 Arts Baccalaureate degree from Princeton in 1989 and was a member of Princeton's Business Today and the University Press Club.
Teach For America
In 1989, Kopp proposed the creation of Teach For America in her 177-page long senior thesis titled "An Argument and Plan for the Creation of the Teachers Corps" which she completed under the supervision of Marvin Bressler. 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.
Shortly after graduating from Princeton, Kopp founded Teach For America. In 1990, 500 recent college graduates joined Teach For America's charter corps.
In 2007, Kopp founded Teach For All, a global network of independent nonprofit organizations that apply the same model as Teach For America in other countries.
In 2013, Kopp transitioned out of the role of CEO of Teach For America and named Elisa Villanueva Beard and Matt Kramer as co-CEOs of the organization. Villanueva Beard assumed full leadership in September 2015. Today, Kopp remains an active member of Teach For America's board.
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.
According to 2012 online records, Kopp makes at least $416,876 per year.
Personal life
Wendy Kopp is married to Richard Barth, president of the KIPP Foundation. They have four children and live in Manhattan.
Awards
Honorary doctorates
2014: University of Oklahoma
2013: Boston University
2012: Harvard University
2010: Marquette University
2009: Washington University in St. Louis
2008: Georgetown University
2007: Mount Holyoke College
2007: Rhodes College
2004: Pace University
2004: Mercy College
2001: Smith College
2000: Princeton University
1995: Connecticut College
1995: Drew University
Awards
2011: Spelman College National Community Service Award
2008: The Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship
2008: Presidential Citizens Medal
2008: Ashoka Fellowship
2006: Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement
2006: The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education Award
2004: The John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award
2003: The Clinton Center Award for Leadership and National Service
2003: The Schwab Foundation's Outstanding Social Entrepreneur Award
1994: Aetna's Voice of Conscience Award
1994: The Citizen Activist Award from the Gleitsman Foundation
1993: Princeton University Woodrow Wilson Award
1991: The Jefferson Award for Public Service
1991: Echoing Green Fellowship
Trivia
On February 5, 2007, Kopp appeared on The Colbert Report.
Published works
One Day, All Children: The Unlikely Triumph of Teach For America and What I Learned Along the Way (2001) A Chance to Make History: What Works and What Doesn't in Providing an Excellent Education for All (2011)
References
External links
Biographies: Official biography – Teach For America Thesis sparks thriving teacher corps – Princeton University Biography – John Glenn School of Public Affairs
Wendy Kopp: America's Best Leaders
Interviews and speeches: Feature video interview with Wendy Kopp on The Alcove with Mark Molaro Teaching Children – PBS Change the World Interviews 2013 Commencement Speech – Boston University 2009 Commencement Speech – Washington University in St. Louis 2008 Commencement Speech – Georgetown University 2007 Commencement Speech – Mount Holyoke College 2006 Commencement Speech – University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Podcast Interview with Wendy Kopp Social Innovation Conversations, February 1, 2008 How I Built This - Teach For America: Wendy Kopp