Teach For America: Wendy Kopp In 1989, college senior Wendy Kopp was trying to figure out how to improve public education in the US. For her senior thesis, she proposed creating a national teaching corps that would recruit recent college grads to teach in needy schools. One year later, she launched the nonprofit, Teach for America. Today, TFA has close to 60,000 alumni and continues to place thousands of teachers across the country. PLUS in our postscript "How You Built That," we check back with 19-year-old CEO Abby Kircher who turned a peanut butter obsession into Abby's Better Nut Butter.
Special Series

How I Built This

For all new episodes, go to the How I Built This page on Wondery.com Listen early and ad-free on Wondery+ Listen on Amazon Music

Teach For America: Wendy Kopp

How You Built That: Abby's Better Nut Butter

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/738989797/739029393" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Connor Heckert for NPR
Wendy Kopp is the founder of Teach for America.
Connor Heckert for NPR

In 1989, college senior Wendy Kopp was trying to figure out how to improve public education in the US.

For her senior thesis, she proposed creating a national teaching corps that would recruit recent college grads to teach in needy schools.

One year later, she launched the nonprofit, Teach for America.

Today, TFA has close to 60,000 alumni and continues to place thousands of teachers across the country.

How You Built That

We check back with 19-year-old CEO Abby Kircher who turned a peanut butter obsession into Abby's Better Nut Butter.

How You Built That: Abby's Better Nut Butter

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/738989797/739029393" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Special Series

How I Built This

For all new episodes, go to the How I Built This page on Wondery.com Listen early and ad-free on Wondery+ Listen on Amazon Music