From TFA to Rocketship: A Commitment to Communities Through Education

For Dr. Eric Dailey, Executive Director of Rocketship Tennessee, his experience with Teach For America helped develop a commitment to supporting communities through education that continues to shape his work today.

Eric joined Teach For America as a 2011 Mississippi Delta corps member and taught middle school literacy at KIPP Delta Public Schools in Blytheville, Arkansas. The experience gave him the opportunity to serve an underresourced community in his home state while teaching alongside his brother and working at a growing charter school.
Through his time in the classroom, Eric saw the power of education and the impact of strong teaching. He also learned an important lesson that has stayed with him throughout his career: it is possible to create high-quality educational experiences in any community.

“My teaching experience developed my love of education and belief in people,” Eric says.

Fifteen years after making his initial commitment through TFA, Eric sees a direct connection between that experience and his work at Rocketship. He has been part of the Rocketship community for two years and today leads the Tennessee region as Executive Director.

“My work at Rocketship was first developed through TFA and is an extension of the commitment I made 15 years ago to support communities that need it the most through education.”

For Eric, the throughline between TFA and Rocketship is a commitment to communities and the role education can play in creating opportunity. His experience demonstrates how a commitment that begins in the classroom can continue to shape a career in education and leadership.

And for current TFA corps members thinking about their own paths forward, Eric’s advice is clear and simple: “Stay the course. Believe in the communities you serve.”

Published on September 15, 2026