Recruiters hope to get U. grads into teaching

Teach for America puts new teachers into understaffed classrooms nationwide. While public education systems across the country face overcrowded classes and poorly trained teachers, Teach for America hopes to help fix what ails schools, one classroom at a time. A non-profit organization that actively recruits recent college graduates and places them in under-resourced public schools all over the country, TFA held an information session in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall last night to inform over 100 University students about the program. Founded by Princeton graduate Wendy Kopp, who outlined the idea for a teaching corps organization in her 1989 senior thesis, the organization is now in its 10th year of operation. It now operates in 13 regions and corps members expect to add the Chicago and Detroit areas to the list this fall. TFA members engage in specialized two-year teaching programs in order to provide children with an education that would otherwise be unattainable. "I was lucky to get a good education," College senior Joy Silvern, TFA's campaign coordinator at Penn, said at the meeting. "Unfortunately, not everyone is, which is I why I am volunteering for TFA." Along with Silvern, Michele Cadwallader, TFA's east campaign director and an alumna of the program, and Susan Elliot, another alumna and coordinator for TFA alumni in the Philadelphia area, discussed their experiences in the program. Last year, TFA received over 3,000 applications from college students and placed 750 of them in the corps. Admission to be a corps member is selective. After submitting written applications, applicants undergo a day-long interview. Those who are accepted then undergo a five-week training session, during which they teach in summer schools with the help of school teachers and experienced corps members. "We are looking for outstanding leaders who want to make education available to everyone," Cadwallader said. Since TFA is part of the federal AmeriCorps program, students who join as corps members receive a Congressional education stipend of $4,725 for each of the two years, which they can use to pay back loans or finance future educational costs. Both TFA alumni who spoke emphasized the challenges of being a corps member. "It was the most intense and challenging experience of my life," Cadwallader said, "but it's life changing, which is why I recruit." "Everyone says it's tough? but I would recommend it to [almost] anybody," Elliot said after the information session. "It makes you tough and you learn about yourself. And even though teaching may not be for you, it gives you an idea of what you may want to do." Judging from their reactions to the information session, Penn students who are passionate about education were not discouraged by the intense nature of the application process and the program itself. "There's great injustice in education today and this program is a chance [for us] to do something about it," College senior Kent Grasso said. "I am so thankful for my education," College senior Rachel Police added. "I've always wanted to teach -- to be the person who stands up in the classroom and makes a difference." Several Penn alumni have continued their commitment to TFA even after finishing their service as corps members. Allison Rogovin, a 1995 College graduate, is now TFA's eastern recruitment director, and Michael Feinberg, a 1991 College graduate, co-founded KIPP academy, a college preparatory school in Houston. Applications for next year's corps are accepted in both November and February. Previous teaching or tutoring experience is not necessary and students of all academic disciplines are welcome to apply.