Rupa Ramadurai

Assistant General Counsel
Illinois State Board Of Education

Miami-Dade '09

Rupa Ramadurai
Career Path
Career PathUniversity of Michigan, University of Miami, Loyola University Chicago School of Law Career SectorLaw

  • University of Michigan

    Rupa was on the pre-med track but her passion was in working with low-income communities, specifically in education for disadvantaged youth. 

  • Teach For America: Miami-Dade Corps

    In addition to being a high school intensive reading teacher, Rupa supported first-year teachers by serving as a Management Learning Team Leader and a Backwards Planning Clinic Leader. 

  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law

    As part of the Civitas Child and Family Law Fellowship program Rupa was able to specialize her course and experiential work in the areas of education law and policy.

  • Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick & Kohn

    As an associate attorney at a law firm specializing in school law, Rupa represented and counseled school districts, specifically boards of education and superintendents.

  • Illinois State Board of Ed., Asst. Gen. Counsel

    Rupa now assists in developing legislation, developing guidance documents, and providing legal support to several divisions such as special education services, charters, and title grants. 

Q & A

What led you to apply to Teach For America?

I didn’t know how exactly to combine my academic passion for reading and writing with my love for working with kids. I spoke to a TFA on-campus recruiter my senior year who shared how she had the ability to change a child’s trajectory through education, and it sold me on that being my calling.

What were some of the major lessons you learned during the corps? When you think about yourself before and after the corps, what changed?

While some improvements are immediate, and some gradual, reflection is key for both. Reflection has allowed me to gauge what works and be transparent with myself. Learning this skill in my 20s has also saved a lot of time in being reactive to unfortunate situations and proactive about approaching them with a solutions-oriented lens.

How have you used the skills and beliefs you developed in the corps?

The classroom taught me how to think on my feet, and how to make sound judgment in the heat of a moment—from disciplining a student to changing the lesson plan to accommodate someone. This ability to be quick, flexible, and adaptable was an invaluable skill that serves me to be effective as an attorney.

How would you say TFA has prepared you to be a leader?

I think my public speaking and presentation skills have drastically improved. Being in front of an audience, engaged or not, doesn’t really phase me anymore. If anything, it has taught me to be charismatic and really tune my presentation for the specific demographic before me. I’m also better at learning about and adjusting mindsets of those around me.

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