MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Teach For America Helps Students Who Are Less Fortunate

By Brooke Pearl

Do you remember when you were a little kid and wanted to change the world in some way? World peace, right? While that may take awhile, Teach For America is something college graduates can do now to help make the world a better place.

Statistics show that today 9-year-olds who live in low-income areas are three grade levels behind other students who are the same age and live in higher-income communities. Did you know that half of them won’t graduate from high school? Sixteen years ago, Wendy Kopp decided to do something about this.

Teach For America started as Wendy’s undergraduate thesis topic in 1990. A student at Princeton University, she felt her generation was ready to make a difference and would jump at the opportunity to teach the underprivileged. She welcomed the responsibilities that came along with such an enormous goal. At 21 years old, she raised $2.5 million to start the program, hired a small staff and made her cause known by launching a grassroots recruitment campaign. During Teach For America’s first year, Wendy rounded up 500 men and women to teach in six low-income communities around the country. Throughout the past 16 years, another 17,000 people have followed Wendy’s lead.

"Teach For America’s mission to end educational inequity is both inspiring and motivating," says Carrie Underwood, director of Operational Support for Teach For America Chicago. "The fact that our staff and corps members have an unwavering belief in our work is one of the most exciting things about us." College graduates who are accepted into the program are devoted individuals who did well in school and usually held leadership roles on their campuses. More importantly, they want to make a positive mark on the country, displaying personalities that go beyond the teachings of the classroom. As the Web site says, they are the "promising future leaders who have the leadership skills necessary to change the prospects of students growing up today and, ultimately, to effect fundamental changes in our society that enable this country to be a place of opportunity for all."

Those accepted into the program commit two years to teaching underprivileged kids in either urban or rural public schools with hopes of eventually eradicating educational inequality. They’re employed by the school they work for and receive the same pay as first-year teachers. Also, as corps members, they’re considered AmeriCorps members and receive additional benefits. Before teaching, they endure a five-week intensive summer training program in Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City or Philadelphia. Applicants come from varied backgrounds, educationally and culturally, and teach equality in all walks of life. Not only will they learn basic knowledge, skills and the mindset needed to perform well in all areas, but they also learn how to observe, coach, study, plan and reflect on the day’s events.

"Most successful teachers in our communities are those who operate as a successful leader would in any context," says Josh Taylor, vice president of Communications for the Teach For America national office. "They establish a compelling vision for where students will be academically at the end of the year; invest students, parents and others in working hard to realize that vision; plan purposefully; and work relentlessly with a sense of urgency to maximize class time in pursuit of the vision and do whatever it takes to reach the vision in spite of the multiple challenges and obstacles along the way." A majority of students respond well to the problem-solving, critical-thinking and organizational skills taught by corps members. After all, Teach For America prepares more teachers for educating low-income communities than any other organization in the United States.

The program not only gives underprivileged students more of an educational opportunity than they or their parents ever dreamed possible, but the college grads also gain a life-altering experience of their own. They have the chance to network and meet people with the same goals, earn graduate school partnerships and learn skills that will help them in any future job. Above all, they are given the chance to help close the educational gap and make a direct impact on the lives of students. "We feel an obligation to eliminate the achievement gap," Josh says. "Children’s ZIP codes shouldn’t determine the education they receive, and working at Teach For America helps you to realize that while the problem is large, it is solvable."

Given the chance to make a difference, Jason Kamras took the opportunity and ran with it. He was a Princeton graduate who majored in policy studies and joined the program in 1996, teaching sixth grade social studies at Sousa Middle School in Washington D.C. He was named the 2005 national Teacher of the Year, and he’s just one of the many success stories to come from Teach For America.

For extra support and encouragement, Teach For America Week is an annual event that brings in experts (and celebrities) in all professions to inspire and give advice to students. Here’s a list from their Web site of those who have dedicated time in the past. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger; Dr. Dre; Oprah Winfrey; designer Kenneth Cole; Kevin Johnson, vice president of the Coca-Cola Company; and former first lady Barbara Bush are just a few people who brought smiles to many less-fortunate students. The list goes on and on. They are, after all, passing on knowledge and wisdom to the future of America.

The past 16 years have brought much success to Teach For America, a program that thrives off volunteerism, selflessness and determination. In turn, our country will be a better place because of it. It’s not world peace just yet, but it’s certainly a good start.