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Corps Year: 2006 |
Describe where you live.
I live with a fellow teacher 15 minutes outside of downtown Baton Rouge and about 20 minutes from my school. Baton Rouge has numerous housing options in various neighborhoods that each offer a unique experience. My neighborhood is less than five minutes from shopping, restaurants, and the interstate.
What do you like most about living in South Louisiana?
South Louisiana is famous for its festivals, crawfish boils, relaxed atmosphere, and award-winning music. Whether on a Tuesday night or a Saturday afternoon, there’s always something to keep you occupied. Immerse yourself in South Louisiana’s culture, and you’ll truly understand what it means to be a Louisianan.
What is the nightlife/weekend-life like in South Louisiana?
The nightlife in downtown Baton Rouge is very similar to other college towns. There is an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops, and bars in the downtown district: some offering panoramic views of the city and Mississippi river. Whether you’re looking for a dance club or a chill place to get your caffeine fix, downtown Baton Rouge has options.
On the weekends, many Teach For America corps members take advantage of the opportunity to meet with corps members who live in the more rural parts of Louisiana. As the "Sportsman’s Paradise,” Louisiana offers countless outdoor activities including hiking, kayaking, canoeing, outdoor rodeos, and tubing down lazy rivers. Cookouts, potlucks, and other gatherings with friends are common as the weather is nice 11½ months a year.
What is it like to teach in East Baton Rouge Parish?
Schools in East Baton Rouge Parish are diverse in staff and in practices. Because employees and administrators are working to make the school system the best it can be, new ideas on ways to build student achievement are always welcomed. As an employee, I feel that my input is valued, and I’m quick to approach my principal with a new class idea, field trip, initiative, etc.
What does the achievement gap look like in your school and what is Teach For America doing to change this?
A large majority of students at my school read more than two grade levels below their expected achievement and perform math almost three grade levels behind. Because of this gap, faculty and staff recognize the importance of their work and respect each other’s commitment to revolutionizing an entire neighborhood. Teach For America corps members are no different. During my first year, seven corps members taught at Capitol Middle School, and this year three of us continue to try to close the gap.
How would you describe the South Louisiana corps culture?
The South Louisiana corps reflects the attitude of the region we work in: consistently challenge yourself to be better while also enjoying the culture and people of South Louisiana. Corps members routinely have each other over for mid-week dinners, meet to listen to Zydeco and Jazz music, and make road trips to surrounding communities. Corps members can also be found in coffee shops and libraries across the region collaborating to ensure each other’s students are successful.
Do you find you can live comfortably here on your teacher’s salary? Are you able to save money?
The salary in East Baton Rouge is very competitive to other southern state’s salaries. I was pleasantly surprised to learn what I’d be making, and am equally excited to be exiting the corps with college debt paid off and enough money to begin the next phase of my career.
How have your students been affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita? What effects are there in your area?
Approximately 10 percent of my students were displaced from New Orleans because of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. While most students were able to evacuate with their families, others had to wait on the Coast Guard, New Orleans Police Department, or other agency to rescue them. Learning students’ stories and talking openly about the storms has enabled me to get to know my students in a way I never thought possible.
What opportunities are there for you after your corps experience in South Louisiana? How did you find these opportunities?
There are countless opportunities after the corps. Graduate schools are eager to recruit Teach For America alumni because of their dedication to solving a particular problem and the success that most often follows their hard work. Corporations are interested in hiring corps members because of the challenges we’ve overcome and the potential we possess for succeeding in the future. Teach For America hosts a website with countless opportunities posted, and has a Career and Leadership Center team willing to work with corps members to find specific matches.
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