Yesenia Castro

Principal
KIPP Raíces Academy

New York '07

Career Path
Career PathStanford, Pace University Career SectorSchool & Systems Leadership

  • Stanford University

    Yesenia majored in international relations and minored in sociology, and served as President of both the Sigma Theta Psi Multicultural Sorority and Chicano Latino Graduation Committee.

  • Teach for America: New York City

    Yesenia taught first grade in a bilingual classroom and led the curriculum mapping team for kindergarten and first grade.

  • KIPP Raíces Academy, first-grade teacher

    As a founding first-grade teacher, Yesenia collaboratively planned ELA curriculum and attended Teachers College at Columbia University in 2010.

  • K-3 Founding Spanish & Social Studies Teacher

    At Raíces Academy, Yesenia created and taught a Spanish and social studies curriculum for four grade levels and founded the school’s financial literacy program.

  • Dean and Assistant Principal

    Raíces Academy, Yesenia was charged with the coaching and professional development of its educators to help drive student achievement.

Q & A

How was the corps a catalyst for your own personal transformation?

TFA encouraged me to further think about my role in my community and the necessity of giving back. Even now, TFA continues to support me through professional development cohorts that have helped me further develop my skillsets as a school leader.

Describe the role TFA has played in the development of your career?

I wouldn’t be where I am now without being a teacher first. I am grateful TFA introduced me to purposeful career. My teaching experience was valuable in that I learned instructional design and the art and craft of teaching. By developing my skills as an educator, I was equipped to support other teachers once I stepped out of the classroom.

What about your corps experience surprises you the most?

I did not expect to entirely change my career aspirations, but that’s what TFA does; the corps exposes you to different opportunities, communities, and ultimately challenges your beliefs. TFA also helped me create strong friendships, and I am still very much connected with the corps members from my 2007 class today.

How do you use the skills and beliefs you developed in the corps?

Teach For America introduced me to the larger mission of strengthening educational equity. From when I started the corps to present day, I still work toward this mission. It is going to take a collective of like-minded people to make educational equity happen, and I’m humbled to be part of that movement.

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