National Event to Raise Awareness of Educational Inequity Brings Mayor Anthony Foxx, Superintendent Gorman, Congresswoman Kay Hagan (D-NC) and Other Leaders into Local Schools as Guest Teachers
For Immediate Release
Contact: Emily Del Pino | Teach For America
917-202-4241 | emily.delpino@teachforamerica.org
CHARLOTTE, February 16, 2010—Leaders from across the region will serve as guest teachers during Teach For America Week, to be held February 16 - 19. Confirmed participants include: Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx; Dr. Peter Gorman, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools; Congresswoman Kay Hagan (D-NC); Pat McCrory, former mayor of Charlotte and senior director of strategic initiatives at Moore & Van Allen; Thomas Ross, president of Davidson College; Phil Dubois, chancellor of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte; and Dr. Ron Carter, president of Johnson C. Smith University.
Teach For America Week draws community leaders nationwide to support educational excellence for all children. These volunteers will visit the classrooms of Teach For America teachers, also known as corps members, and teach lessons based 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 Tim Hurley, executive director of Teach For America in Charlotte. “By sharing their expertise in classrooms across Charlotte, 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.”
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 in Charlotte, 231 Teach For America corps members are reaching more than 14,500 students in underserved schools while some 134 alumni are working from every sector to level the playing field for students and families in low-income communities.
Senator Kay Hagan (DC-NC) will teach in Sean Tynan’s class at Bishop Spaugh Community Academy on Tuesday, February 16. A graduate of Clemson University, Tynan is in his third year of teaching.
“I am looking forward to participating as a guest teacher during Teach For America Week and working with the students at Bishop Spaugh Community Academy on an important social studies topic—civic education,” said Senator Hagan, who is participating in the event for the first time. “Our students in North Carolina deserve the best education we can provide, and Teach For America plays a big part in achieving that goal. I am thrilled that Teach For America is able to provide our schools and communities with dedicated young people who work hard every day to improve our children’s education."
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:
Tuesday, February 16
U. S. Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC)
Bishop Spaugh Community Academy, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Mary Newsom, Associate Editor, The Charlotte Observer
Eastway Middle School 11:00 a.m. - noon
Brandon Lofton, Associate Attorney, Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson
McClintock Middle School, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 17
Katie Belk Morris, Chair, Board of Directors, The Belk Foundation
Nations Ford Elementary School, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Richard Williams, Senior Vice President, Environmental, Health and Safety, Duke Energy; and President of Duke Energy Foundation
Independence High School, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Pat McCrory, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, Moore & Van Allen
Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology 9:45 a.m. -10:30 a.m.
Ann Clark, Chief Academic Officer, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
Shamrock Gardens Elementary, 11:00 a.m. – noon
Thomas Ross, President, Davidson College
Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Anthony Foxx, Mayor of Charlotte
Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, 1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Dr. Tony Zeiss, President Central Piedmont Community College
Northridge Middle School, 1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 18
Phil Dubois, Chancellor, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Vance High School, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Tim Newman, Chief Executive Officer, Charlotte Regional Visitor's Authority
Allenbrook Elementary School, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Dr. Peter Gorman, Superintendent, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Irwin Avenue Elementary School, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Holly Welch Stubbing, Senior Vice President, Client Services & Legislative Affairs, Foundation For The Carolinas
Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Robert Griffin, Managing Partner, Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson
Olympic High School, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Friday, February 19
Dr. Ron Carter, President, Johnson C. Smith University
KIPP Charlotte, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
U.S. Representative Larry Kissell (D-NC)
McClintock Middle School, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
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.
Copyright 2012 Teach For America, Inc. All rights reserved
Teach For America logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Teach For America, Inc.
Teach For America was named one of America's top 100 Ideal Employers in Universum's 2011 American Student Survey.
Teach For America was named one of Fortune magazine's top 100 employers to work for.
Teach For America thanks our National Partners for their generous support.