Our corps members
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Corps and Alumni
Mississippi Delta
Join a call with our executive director
RSVP for a conference call on Tuesday, February 3rd or Thursday, February 5th at 8:00 p.m. EST to learn more about living and teaching in the Mississippi Delta.
The call will be led by Ron Nurnberg, executive director, and feature regional staff and corps members.
Corps member perspectives
Letter from the Mississippi Delta
Dear Friends,
When I joined Teach For America, cotton, blues, and barbecue were about all I knew of the Mississippi Delta. I had consulted with numerous family members and friends to see if they knew anything about the place that I was to spend the next two years of my life, but all were unfamiliar with that part of the country. As I packed and prepared to move, I was filled with excitement about the experiences, challenges, and successes that I would encounter over the next two years. I knew that the Delta was a place that I would live for the next short phase of my life, but I didn’t know I would leave with a chest of stories and experiences that would change my life.
'Life changing' is the only phrase I can think of to define my experiences in the Delta. The two years that I originally intended on spending in the Delta have now turned into four.
Heat, humidity, and mosquitoes defined the Delta in the summer of 2001. During my first week there I found a nice house to live in for the next two years. For about $300 a month, I would receive three bedrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen, fenced backyard with shed, and a paved parking area. At that point, I was a big fan of the Delta! However, during my second week as a corps member the reality of life in the Delta came knocking on my door. If I wanted to go shopping, see a movie, visit an art museum, or attend a sporting event, it would be a two-hour drive up the road.
But when I started teaching in Friars Point, Mississippi, students, planning, and grading became the focus of my life in the Delta. If you are trying to locate this small point on a map, good luck! Friars Point is a community of about 1,500 that sits on the banks of the Mississippi River about two hours south of Memphis, TN. The windows of my classroom offered quintessential views of all that is geographically the Delta: fields of cotton, the levee holding back the mighty Mississippi River, and a seemingly endless skyline uninhibited by forests. While the windows of my classroom offered amazing snapshots, the seats and desks in my classroom was where the true beauty of the Delta resided.
Timothy, Michael, and Erin are some of the names that defined my life as an educator at Friars Point Elementary School. My students were all-around amazing young people who cared about learning and doing well in school. Each of my students had a unique personality and learning style, which provided for many challenging days and interesting lessons. All of my students faced challenges in their academic experiences, but they worked hard to achieve despite those challenges. My students taught me so much about life, purpose, and determination.
It doesn’t take long to see that the Delta is a place where history is still unfolding. I have witnessed firsthand how many of the same issues that were present 40 years ago are still being resolved today. I have seen my students continue the fight for equality as they live and battle against low academic expectations, inadequate healthcare, and poor nutrition. I have visited some of the same towns, parks, and streets where Martin Luther King, Jr., Ralph Abernathy, Medgar Evers, and Fannie Lou Hanner fought for justice and equality. Through its history, heritage, and culture, it is clear that the Delta is alive in spirit and resolve.
“Life-changing” is the only phrase I can think of to define my experiences in the Delta. The two years that I originally intended on spending in the Delta have now turned into four. Yet things are changing in the Delta. A few days from now I am going to see my first class of students graduate sixth grade and embark on the next phase of their education. I know that many of those students are going to do great things with their lives. They are going to one day lead the battle in the Delta, Mississippi, and our nation for a high-quality and equitable education for all children. In the meantime there is still a great deal to be done, and I am going to continue to work to ensure that our students are receiving all they are entitled.
Best Wishes,
Paul B. Barnhardt (Corps '01)
