Teach For America DFW Names New Executive Director and New Board Chair

Bibi Yasmin Katsev has been named the executive director of Teach For America’s Dallas-Fort Worth region.

The local chapter of the nonprofit Teach For America organization has a mission is to enlist, develop, and mobilize promising future leaders in education.

Katsev will oversee all aspects of the organization’s regional operations, in collaboration with newly appointed board chair Kathy Crow.

“As I take on this new board role with TFA-DFW, I couldn’t be more pleased to be welcoming Bibi Yasmin Katsev as the new executive director of TFA-DFW,” Crow said in a statement. “Bibi Yasmin has worked for years on finding innovative solutions to improving student outcomes.”

Crow says Katsev’ experience with the District Charter Alliance (DCA) gives her a “deep understanding of the education policy discussions happening at a state-wide level.” The leader also has shown extensive leadership in collaborating with other education organizations on reform and innovation.

“Bibi Yasmin’s career has been focused on educational renewal and advancement, and I just know she’ll be an inspirational leader to our TFA network,” Crow said.

TFA said the new leaders will pursue its 2030 goal to see twice as many children in the communities where they work reach key college and career readiness milestones indicating they are on a path to economic mobility and a future filled with possibility.

Teach For America’s aim and impact

Teach For America said it recruits a diverse group of our nation’s most promising leaders to make an enduring commitment to educational equity, beginning with teaching for at least two years in high-need, underserved schools.

Teach For America said it has been a partner to communities across Dallas-Fort Worth since 2009 and that this year, more than 600 Teach For America corps members and alumni are reaching more than 90,000 students in schools across Dallas and Fort Worth.

There are more than 1,600 active TFA corps members and alumni currently living and working across Dallas-Fort Worth, engaging in education leadership, policy, law, and many other sectors in support of educational equity.

The organization said it supports this network of leaders as they pursue a vision of an excellent and equitable education for all children in the state. Working inside and outside of the classroom, the network includes teachers, school leaders, elected officials, and leaders of community-based organizations, TFA said.

Education transformation expert

Most recently, Katsev was the CEO of the District Charter Alliance, where she led student-centric education reforms and collaborative work on improving student outcomes across Texas.

Before that, she was with the Texas Education Agency, where she focused on the development and implementation of the System of Great Schools Initiative, the School Redesign Fund, and Transformation Zones to expand opportunity for students, TFA said. Katsev also worked in education policy for the Texas Senate.

“I am honored to continue the work and legacy of the nearly 15 years of impact within our DFW communities,” Katsev said in a statement. “I am optimistic and inspired by the dedication of our students and families in their pursuit of excellent education and know our efforts in learning, strategizing, and creating impactful partnerships throughout the metroplex will continue to push TFA DFW toward achieving our ambitious 2030 goal.”