Funding to Support Training and Professional Development of 205 Teachers Leading South Louisiana Classrooms
For Immediate Release
Contact: Kaitlin Gastrock | Teach For America
(646) 315-1396 | kaitlin.gastrock@teachforamerica.org
BATON ROUGE , La., July 8, 2010—Teach For America announced today that State Farm has provided a $10,000 grant to support the training and professional development of Teach For America teachers in South Louisiana. This fall, 105 new Teach For America teachers will join 100 of the organization’s second-year teachers to reach more than 12,000 local students. The incoming 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.
Teach For America recruits, trains, and supports top college graduates who commit to teach for two years in underserved public schools and become lifelong leaders in the movement for educational equity. This year’s corps members 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, including 12 percent of all seniors at Ivy League schools. Applicants also included 5 percent of seniors at Southern University and Tulane University.
“We’re thrilled to have State Farm® as a partner in our effort to expand educational opportunity for South Louisiana students in our highest need areas,” said Michael Tipton, executive director of Teach For America in South Louisiana. “State Farm’s® generous support will help us prepare our corps members to lead their students to high levels of academic achievement.”
In 2009, State Farm created a national partnership with Teach For America, donating $1 million to support teacher recruitment and training.
“Teach For America's mission aligns with State Farm’s support of efforts to ensure all children have access to a quality education that will allow them to achieve their greatest potential and prepare them to be active participants in a nation that continues to be global leader,” said Louisiana Vice President-Agency Kim Rollins. “As a participant in this year’s Teach For America Week, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the real and lasting impact these teachers have in their schools and communities. I was so impressed by the students' high aspirations. They have goals to become doctors, meteorologists, and even the President of the United States. Most importantly, they are not intimidated by the hard work and dedication it will take to attain their future success.”
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 the traditionally prepared graduates. Middle school math students of Teach For America teachers received the equivalent of an extra half-year of learning.
Beyond their impact as corps members, two-thirds of Teach For America alumni remain in education, leading schools, winning accolades as teachers, and serving in other roles at the forefront of the movement for educational equity.
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.
About State Farm®
State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,700 agents and 68,600 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 78.7 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit www.statefarm.com® or in Canada www.statefarm.ca®.
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