Education has always been a very important part of my life. I began to appreciate the value of a strong education at a very young age. I was raised by a teacher and principal, my biggest hero and confidant -- who also happens to be my father, Kevin Colgan.

There seem to be two paths to becoming a teacher: the traditional years of courses in order to become certified, and its alternative, Teach for America (TFA). There are pros and cons to either approach, but the quality of effect on student achievement is amazing.

TFA offers a two-year program to train aspiring teachers from a very selective pool of universities before entering the field. Individuals motivated by passion instead of a cushy salary always tend to yield interesting and strong results.

To find out more about this amazing program, please visit Teach for America.