Did you know that only 8% of children that grow up in low-income communities graduate from college by age 24? This number is even more startling when you learn that more than 16 million children in America are growing up in poverty. With the support of committed adults, however, kids are proving every day that demographics don’t have to be destiny. Teach For America is looking for dedicated individuals to take on the challenge of ensuring every child has a fair shot at a great education that opens the doors to college and a lifetime filled with opportunity.
Teach For America is a national non-profit organization working to end educational inequity in the U.S. Teach For America believes that a “great education for all will create a great future for all.” Their network of some 38,000 corps members and alumni are working to provide excellent education for children in low-income communities so that they can have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. Teach For America’s goal is to cultivate lifelong leaders committed to ensuring access to an excellent education for all students, regardless of their zip code or family income. They are about building advocates and leaders in all levels of our education system, including effective classroom teachers empowering their students to achieve at the highest levels.
Who does Teach For America recruit? Teach For America uses a research-based approach to identify the characteristics common to their most effective teachers. Seeking a diverse group of leaders, TFA looks for individuals who are dedicated to expanding the opportunities for students, believe in the potential of all children, and have demonstrated achievement in academics, jobs, extracurriculars, and volunteering. Teach For America also looks for individuals with excellent critical thinking skills, who persevere in the face of challenges, and have respect for individuals’ diverse experiences and backgrounds.
As a Teach For America corps member, one can expect to make an immediate impact in the lives of your students, while learning a tremendous amount. Setting a high bar for student learning and working relentlessly to measure progress towards those learning goals, corps members gain many skills, including time-management, project planning, and goal setting, as they take on the responsibility of leading a class. Corps members can also expect to build meaningful relationships with fellow corps members, school colleagues, and those in the communities they work in. Many corps members have mentioned that Teach For America allowed them to become a leader, to make a difference, and helped them grow.
If you are interested in learning more about Teach For America, check out their website. If you wish to apply for Teach For America, sign up by creating an account and completing the application by one of the five application deadlines throughout the year.
Remember, “You have the power to change things.”
