Released on: February 12, 2008, 5:36 pm

Press Release Author: KIPP Ascend Charter School

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary: Oak Park native Mike Feinberg, co-founder of the Knowledge Is
Power Program (KIPP) and Teach for America (TFA) alumni member returns to Chicago on
Thursday, February 14, 2008 from 12:00 - 1:30 at the Motorola offices at 233 North
Michigan Avenue to inspire future teachers to eliminate social inequity through
high-quality teaching.

Press Release Body: Mike Feinberg will address an audience of 40 supporters, alumni,
and corps members of Teach for America. He is currently superintendent of the KIPP
schools in Houston, the educational reform movement he co-founded in 1994 with
fellow TFA alumni member Dave Levin. Now entering its second decade, KIPP has
become one of the nation\'s leaders in the movement to provide all children with
access to an excellent public education. There are 57 KIPP schools across the
country, all modeled after what was started in Houston. KIPP alumni are boasting an
85-90% college matriculation rate, which compares to the 10-15% rate found in their
neighborhood high schools.

In a recent article in Forbes magazine, Feinberg said, "We aim to not only open more
high-quality public schools across the country but also to have a transformative
impact on the traditional school system. When FedEx started next-day mail, many
predicted that the U.S. Postal Service would be unable to compete. Today, the Postal
Service offers overnight mail. When KIPP reaches full size in Houston, we will be
serving 10% of public school-age children in Houston, and, we hope, reach a 'tipping
point' in public education."

Teach For America was created to build a diverse, highly selective corps of top
recent college graduates and professionals-individuals of all academic majors,
career interests, and backgrounds-who commit two years to teach in low-income
communities and become lifelong leaders in pursuit of educational excellence and
equity. The Chicago corps is currently 230 strong, in 88 elementary, middle, and
high schools across Chicago and Gary. Together, the Chicago corps impacts over
20,000 students. Ninety percent of Chicago corps members are placed in schools with
other corps members or alumni. Over the next five years, the size of the Chicago
corps is expected to double - further increasing the impact in Chicago.

KIPP Ascend Charter School in Chicago (www.kippascend.org), KIPP LEAD in Gary
(www.kipplead.org), and Noble Network of Charter Schools (www.noblenetwork.org) will
also be in attendance, as TFA alumni at these schools provide ongoing support for
Teach for America - Chicago corps members.


Web Site: http://teachforamerica.org

Contact Details: CONTACT INFORMATION:
Andria Ryberg, Manager - Corporate and Foundation Relations,
Teach for America - Chicago
Phone 312-254-1000 ext 313 email andria.ryberg@teachforamerica.org
Website www.teachforamerica.org