National Event to Raise Awareness of Educational Inequity Brings New Haven Mayor John J. DeStefano, Jr., Nationally Syndicated Talk Show Host Maury Povich and Other Leaders into Local Schools as Guest Teachers
For Immediate Release
Contact: Emily Del Pino | Teach For America
646-584-1625 | emily.delpino@teachforamerica.org
NEW HAVEN —April 5 , 2010—Leaders from across Connecticut will serve as guest teachers during Teach For America Week, to be held April 5-16. Confirmed participants include: Laura Dambier, vice president of operations at Lincoln Financial Group; John J. DeStefano, Jr., Mayor of New Haven; and Maury Povich, host of the nationally syndicated daytime talk show “Maury.”
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 Edna Novak, executive director of Teach For America in Connecticut. “By sharing their expertise in classrooms across the region, 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 Connecticut, nearly 160 Teach For America corps members are reaching approximately 9,000 students in underserved schools while more than 200 alumni in the state are working from every sector to level the playing field for students and families in low-income communities.
Mayor DeStefano will teach in Antonio Giaimo’s class at Truman School on Tuesday, April 13. A graduate of Fordham University, Giaimo is in his second year of teaching.
"There is no better economic development, crime reduction and job creation strategy than to provide the very best education to our children. High quality education translates to improved opportunities for success in our children's lives. This is why New Haven is investing in School Change and why we are so committed to providing the best education to our City's students. Our teachers are among our greatest partners in this effort," said Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. "Teach For America week highlights the great work taking place in our classrooms to get our children to the next level. Teach For America shares our goals of making sure children have the preparation to succeed in school and in life and I am pleased to participate in this week's activities."
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:
Wednesday, April 7
Maury Povich, Host of the Nationally Syndicated Daytime Talk Show “Maury”
Barnum School - 495 Waterview Avenue, Bridgeport; 9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Tuesday, April 13
John DeStefano, Mayor of New Haven
Truman School - 114 Truman Street, New Haven; 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 15
Laura Dambier, Vice President of Operations, Lincoln Financial Group
Moylan School - 101 Catherine Street, Hartford; 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 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.