When Chintan Desai was studying political science at the University of California Davis, he never imagined his path would lead to a career with Teach for America (TFA) in Helena, Arkansas.

“Within the matter of a weekend, I graduated from college, relocated to the Delta and began a five-week course to become a school teacher,” Chintan said.

Chintan’s first classroom stint began in 2010 teaching English at Central High School in Helena. He later taught social studies at KIPP Delta Public Charter School, which prepared him to have a greater impact on Arkansas schools.

“TFA is about providing a quality education to children, and they look for people who can work inside or outside of the classroom to meet those objectives. I am fortunate to be living out the TFA mission in Helena, which is a place I’ve grown to love and call home,” he said.

Chintan is currently manager of community partnerships for TFA-Arkansas where one of his responsibilities is alumni engagement and retention.

“We want more folks like me who can make a commitment to an area beyond their two-year teaching obligation. But we must help them make a connection to and have an impact in the communities in which they live,” he said.

For Chintan, he has been intimately involved in revitalization efforts in downtown Helena, including TFA’s purchase and remodeling of an old furniture store which now houses organizational offices and serves as a community meeting place. Additionally, it has been a stimulus for retail development in downtown Helena, much of which is the work of young professional entrepreneurs.

“Look at Helena and one can see the broad reach of TFA beyond the school walls to the communities and neighborhoods where TFA’s presence has helped energize growth,” Chintan said.

But TFA’s primary responsibility continues to be academic achievement and providing quality teachers, which is a challenge in the Arkansas Delta.

“We have approximately 15 partner school districts, and the demand is much greater than we can meet,” Chintan said. “In 2014, for instance, we received 150 requests from partner districts for TFA teachers, but we were able to meet only half of those. For those we couldn’t supply, districts were forced to use long-term substitute teachers, which has a negative impact on the quality of education.”

Chintan says he has a message for those considering careers with TFA.

“I can’t imagine finding a job as exciting, rewarding and fulfilling as working with TFA because one can truly have a direct impact on lives,” he said.