Teach for America makes a difference
By: Beth Spencer
Issue date: 11/4/08 Section: Other Stories
Many college graduates put off grad school or delay climbing the corporate ladder to spend their next two years teaching in low-income communities instead.
Teach for America recruits and trains college graduates of various majors to teach in rural and urban schools.
Teachers, called corps members, commit to teaching for two years and are paid regular teacher salaries from their school districts.
TFA has become a launch pad for many of the nation's brightest students.
"We found some of the most amazing people out of places like U of M, who can really make a difference in the classroom," said Jessie Forman, recruitment director for Teach for America.
Memphis City Schools joined the list of districts participating in TFA in 2006. TFA members now teach in about 50 schools in the area, according to TFA executive director Brad Leon.
Leon began teaching eighth grade with TFA in New Orleans in 2002.
"When you join, you have a sense of what you're going into," he said.
"Only 30 percent were able to read and write on an eighth grade level. Eighth grade students, on average, were two or three grade levels behind," said Leon, about one of his classes.
TFA is a data-driven organization that recruits corps members who get results in whatever they do. Getting kids from point A to point B is what Teach for America is about, he said.
Students who want to be a part of TFA can prepare early by learning about the program through its Web site, TeachforAmerica.org. There they can find information about interviews, deadlines and applications.
The second application deadline for 2009 is Nov. 7, and there are deadlines in January and February for students who didn't get a chance to apply early.
Corps members choose from 29 different regions to teach. The selection includes urban areas like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles or rural areas, like Mississippi or North Carolina.
Elizabeth Trotter, a history major at the U of M, said one reason she is interested in the program is because it would give her a chance to relocate.
Teach for America recruits and trains college graduates of various majors to teach in rural and urban schools.
Teachers, called corps members, commit to teaching for two years and are paid regular teacher salaries from their school districts.
TFA has become a launch pad for many of the nation's brightest students.
"We found some of the most amazing people out of places like U of M, who can really make a difference in the classroom," said Jessie Forman, recruitment director for Teach for America.
Memphis City Schools joined the list of districts participating in TFA in 2006. TFA members now teach in about 50 schools in the area, according to TFA executive director Brad Leon.
Leon began teaching eighth grade with TFA in New Orleans in 2002.
"When you join, you have a sense of what you're going into," he said.
"Only 30 percent were able to read and write on an eighth grade level. Eighth grade students, on average, were two or three grade levels behind," said Leon, about one of his classes.
TFA is a data-driven organization that recruits corps members who get results in whatever they do. Getting kids from point A to point B is what Teach for America is about, he said.
Students who want to be a part of TFA can prepare early by learning about the program through its Web site, TeachforAmerica.org. There they can find information about interviews, deadlines and applications.
The second application deadline for 2009 is Nov. 7, and there are deadlines in January and February for students who didn't get a chance to apply early.
Corps members choose from 29 different regions to teach. The selection includes urban areas like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles or rural areas, like Mississippi or North Carolina.
Elizabeth Trotter, a history major at the U of M, said one reason she is interested in the program is because it would give her a chance to relocate.