In a separate event, Rep. Elijah Cummings will give the keynote address before the screening of a documentary by a Teach For America alumnus
For Immediate Release
Contact: Rhonda Stewart | Teach For America
202-281-8675 | rhonda.stewart@teachforamerica.org
BALTIMORE, April 2, 2010— Leaders from across the city will serve as guest teachers during Teach For America Week, which will take place from April 6-14. Confirmed participants include Baltimore School Board Chairman Neil Duke, Baltimore Ravens Running Back Ray Rice, and Diane Bell-McKoy, president and CEO of Associated Black Charities.
Teach For America Week draws community leaders nationwide to support the goal of expanding educational opportunity. As guest teachers, these volunteers will visit the classrooms of Teach For America teachers, known as corps members, and teach lessons that draw on their experience in business, politics, and beyond. An annual event since 1997, Teach For America Week will take place in 30 regions across the country in 2010.
“We’re excited about the broad range of leaders participating in Teach For America Week this year,” said Omari Todd, executive director of Teach For America in Baltimore. “By sharing their expertise in classrooms across the city, these accomplished individuals will make a lasting impression on hundreds of students and help to focus attention on the importance of providing all children with the educational opportunities they deserve.”
Also during Teach For America Week, on Tuesday April 6 Rep. Elijah Cummings will give the keynote address before the screening of a documentary called “Men II Boys.” Directed by Teach For America alumnus Darnell Shields, the film features interviews with Cummings and other African-American leaders on the importance of strong role models in children’s lives. A discussion of the film will follow the screening and the event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Charles Theater in Baltimore.
Teach For America is the national corps of top recent college graduates who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in the movement to expand educational opportunity. Teach For America’s network includes 7,300 corps members teaching in 35 regions and a national force of 17,000 alumni at the forefront of efforts to end educational inequity.
This year, 244Teach For America corps members are teaching approximately 15,000 students in underserved schools across the Baltimore area, while about 380 alumni live and work in metropolitan Baltimore.
A growing body of rigorous research demonstrates the effectiveness of Teach For America corps members as classroom teachers. A 2008 Urban Institute study updated last year found that corps members have a positive effect on student achievement relative to other teachers, including experienced teachers, traditionally prepared teachers, and those fully certified in their field. An earlier study by Mathematica Policy Research found that students of corps members make 10 percent more progress in a year in math than is typically expected and slightly exceed the normal expectation for progress in reading.
Schedule for confirmed guest teachers:
Neil Duke, chairman of Baltimore School Board
Calverton Middle School, Tuesday April 6, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.
Mayo Shattuck, chairman and CEO, Constellation Energy
Reach! Partnership, Monday, Tuesday April 6, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.
Diane Bell-McKoy, president and CEO, Associated Black Charities
Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy, Tuesday April 6, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Joe Ehrmann, inspirational speaker, Coach For America
Doris M. Johnson High School, Wednesday April 7, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.
William Roberts, president, Verizon Maryland
Curtis Bay Elementary School, Wednesday April 7, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Andrew Bertamini, Baltimore regional president, Wachovia Corporation
Carver Vocational-Tech High School, Thursday April 8, 9:45 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Mark Fetting, chairman and CEO, Legg Mason Inc.
Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts, Friday April 9, 10 a.m.-noon
Ray Rice, running back, Baltimore Ravens
Harford Heights Elementary, Wednesday April 14, 10 a.m.-noon
About Teach For America and Teach For America Week
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. Teach For America Week is the annual, nationwide event in which guest teachers engage students from some of our nation’s lowest-income communities and inspire them to pursue academic success. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org.
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