Excellent teaching for every student

WHY I’M FUNDRAISING FOR TEACHING MATTERS

My name is Victor Frias, DRE, PhD, and I’m raising funds for Teaching Matters, Inc. because its mission mirrors my life’s journey. Teaching Matters is dedicated to improving effective teaching and disrupting cycles of economic and intergenerational inequity for marginalized students and families. By strengthening classroom practice, Teaching Matters amplifies the voices of students and educators—regardless of zip code—and expands access to opportunity.

MY STORY

I was born in Bonao, in the heart of the Dominican Republic—a town alive with merengue, romantic ballads, and open-air markets. There, I learned early that education is the gateway to freedom. My first baseball field wasn’t grass but packed dirt, my bat a tree branch, my ball a rock. Even then, I understood dreams require creativity, perseverance, and belief. In 1975, my family settled in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, on Suffolk Street and Stanton. That neighborhood shaped my grit and resilience. I attended Seward Park High School but eventually dropped out—not because I lacked ability, but because I hadn’t yet found purpose. Purpose, however, found me through people.

THE POWER OF EDUCATORS

Educators like Nilsa Acosta, Ms. Valcin, and Mr. Haynor didn’t just teach me—they anchored me. They saw me, believed in me, and reminded me that immigrant students are central to the American story. Their unwavering commitment transformed my trajectory and inspired me to become a servant leader—someone who lifts others as they rise.

WHY TEACHING MATTERS

Today, I am proud to be a product of Community School District One and even prouder to be the father of three amazing children. My story is not unique, but it is proof of what happens when committed educators, strong communities, and equitable systems come together. Teaching Matters represents what changed my life—and what can change the lives of countless students who are still waiting to be seen.

A CALL TO ACTION

Your support helps ensure that teachers are equipped, students are empowered, and communities are uplifted. Together, we can expand opportunity and interrupt cycles of inequity—one classroom at a time.

To every student who feels unseen, every educator who leads with heart, and every immigrant family pursuing opportunity: I see you. I honor you. And I walk with you.