Why Leadership Matters More Than Technology with Aneesh Sohoni of Teach For America

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Look, the story of how AI will impact students is still to be written. And I deeply believe that it's going to require real leadership to ensure that that story is one of all children having access to an excellent education. And as I shared, given what we do at Teach for America, I really believe it's going to be our network of leaders more than anyone else who are going to shape how AI gets used in the classroom to advance learning. And I believe in this because of who we recruit and who we select to join our core, their deep belief in all children, their curiosity, their desire to learn, and their ultimate focus on having a real impact on student learning.

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Remember to subscribe to the pod, check out our newsletter, and also our event calendar. And to go deeper, check out EdTech Insiders Plus, where you can get premium content, access to our WhatsApp channel, early access to events, and back channel insights from Alex and Ben. Hope you enjoyed today's pod. Hello, EdTech Insider listeners. Today, I am so honored to be joined by Anish Chauhani, the CEO of Teach for America. Full disclosure, I am a TFA alumnus myself, Bay Area 03 in the house. I'm also on the board of Teach for America SoCal. So a little bit biased in the interview, just a little bit about Anish. He began his career as a high school English teacher and in the 2009 Twin Cities Corps, where his classroom experience sparked a lasting commitment to expanding opportunity for all students. And Anish has also served as executive director of TFA Greater Chicago, Northwest Indiana, and One Million Degrees. Anish, welcome to EdTech

Insiders. Well, thanks for having me, Ben. And I am biased as well. I love having these conversations, but they're especially meaningful with alums. And so thank you for the opportunity. I'm looking forward to this.

Yeah, before we jump into where Teach for America is today and where we're headed, tell us a little bit about your journey. Why education? We heard a little bit about your teaching experience. What sparked the lifelong passion that you've had? And why do you think Teach for America matters now more than ever before?

Yeah, my lifelong passion started with my own experience as a core member, as you mentioned, in 2009. I was lucky enough when I was in college at the University of Minnesota to run across this sidewalk chalk sign. This is pre-digital marketing era. And I basically was invited through the chalk sign to attend an informational session on Teach