Local Teach For America Corps Supports State’s Efforts to Raise Student Achievement
For Immediate Release
Contact: Rebecca Neale | Teach For America
(202) 906-9207 | rebecca.neale@teachforamerica.org
PIERRE, S.D., May 24, 2010—Teach For America announced today that 33 of the organization’s new teachers will come to the state this fall to teach in some of the highest-need public schools. The 33 new corps members will boost the size of Teach For America’s corps in South Dakota to nearly 70 teachers.
These new local teachers are among more than 4,500 new Teach For America corps members nationwide, the largest incoming corps in the organization’s 20-year history. They were chosen through a highly selective process that attracted a record 46,000 applicants. At more than 120 colleges and universities, more than 5 percent of the senior class applied to Teach For America, including 12 percent of all seniors at Ivy League universities.
“Teach For America teachers are a powerful resource for South Dakota. They work relentlessly in our highest-need schools to make a difference, and we are honored to be their partners,” said Maggie Austin, codirector of Dakota ASSETS at Technology and Innovation in Education.
Teach For America, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, will place more than 8,200 first- and second-year corps members in 39 regions across the country this fall.
“We are thrilled to be able to expand our impact in many of South Dakota’s highest-need classrooms and to continue building the pipeline of future leaders for our state,” said Catherine Pozniak, executive director of Teach For America in South Dakota. “These new teachers will join our current corps members and alumni in working tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of South Dakota students today and for generations to come.”
This year’s incoming corps members have an average GPA of 3.6 and 89 percent held a significant leadership position. The fastest-growing segments of the corps are graduate students and professionals seeking to have an immediate impact in education. Twenty-eight percent of incoming corps members received Pell Grants. Almost one-third are people of color, including nearly 7 percent who are Hispanic and 11 percent who are African American, which is more than double the percentage of African American graduates at the colleges where Teach For America primarily recruits. Additionally, the percentage of Native American and Native Hawaiian corps members nearly doubled, furthering Teach For America’s Native Achievement Initiative efforts to recruit more individuals from these communities to join the corps.
A growing body of rigorous research demonstrates the effectiveness of Teach For America teachers. A new study from the University of North Carolina compares the effects on student achievement of graduates from the UNC teacher-preparation system with teachers from other pathways, including Teach For America. At every grade level and subject studied, students taught by Teach For America corps members did as well as or better than those taught by traditionally prepared UNC graduates. Middle school math students of Teach For America teachers received the equivalent of an extra half-year of learning.
Teach For America’s track record of achieving results for students has earned the organization support from a wide range of political and community leaders across South Dakota.
“I am pleased that Teach For America will be bringing some of our nation’s top college graduates into classrooms on reservations across South Dakota this fall,” said Rep. Herseth Sandlin. “Improving the quality of life in Indian Country in the future will start with improving educational opportunities available today, and innovative programs like Teach For America are helping us ensure that students in South Dakota are well-prepared to meet the challenges ahead.”
The new corps members in South Dakota will join approximately 30 Teach For America alumni in the state who are working from within education and every other professional sector to expand opportunities for students and families in low-income communities. Of the 20,000-plus Teach For America alumni nationwide, two-thirds remain in education, including 450 who are school principals or superintendents.
About Teach For America
Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity. This fall, more than 8,200 corps members will be teaching in 39 regions across the country, while more than 20,000 Teach For America alumni continue working from inside and outside the field of education for the fundamental changes necessary to ensure educational excellence and equity. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org.
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