Linwood Green III (Charlotte-Piedmont Triad '15) is a Leroy "Pop" Miller (LPM) Fellow. The LPM Fellowship provides additional support and leadership opportunities to alumni teachers who continue leading within the classroom. The fellowship is named after the late Leroy "Pop" Miller, a principal who served 37 years in service to students, staff, families, and the community. Many describe Pop as a visionary, trailblazer, and consensus builder who was committed to improving public education. We spoke with Linwood about why he became a fellow and more. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

My name is Linwood Green III. I emphasize the third because it sounds prestigious. I am from Baltimore, Maryland. I currently teach at Sedgefield Middle School in Charlotte, North Carolina, and just finished my master's of executive leadership from Gardner-Webb University.

The pandemic has shifted what I like to do in my free time, which is hang out with friends; now I'm cool with watching a good movie or series and ordering food, but mostly I enjoy playing video games with my son (NBA 2K and Forza Motorsport 7, to be specific).

Why did you want to become a Leroy “Pop” Miller Fellow?

I wanted to become a Leroy "Pop” Miller Fellow because I knew that I wanted to continue teaching after my initial two-year commitment. Not many teachers receive outside support, so to be able to be in the classroom and have support from coaches and colleagues via TFA was very critical to my success in the classroom. 

Tell us about your internship this past summer.   

This summer I had the opportunity to work with the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services (DSS). This internship opportunity has allowed me to build working professional relationships, add essential skills to my resume, and I gained an abundance of knowledge in regards to learning about and focusing on the practical day-to-day work that’s done in their offices. I worked with the Operations, Strategy & Innovation division (OSI). This division is responsible for:

• Advocacy & Quality Improvement 
• Interpreter & Translation
• Research, Planning & Evaluation
• Facilities Management
• Program Integrity
• Communication
• Training & Development

You’re about to begin your sixth year of teaching. How has your opinion of education and educators evolved over the years?

Education needs more funding and educators need more financial compensation for what is required of them.

Where have you seen the power of the TFA network at play in the fight for equity? 

I have seen it at play this summer during protests against injustice across the world. It’s in the people!

I also had an opportunity to review applications for incoming corps members, and the process reinforces TFA’s mission which is to "enlist, develop, and mobilize as many as possible of our nation's most promising future leaders to grow and strengthen the movement for educational equity and excellence."

What is something you’re deeply grateful for right now? 

Access to the internet is not something to take for granted. But I’m mostly grateful about the quality time spent with my son, Victor. He inspires me! He’s 3 and likes learning new things, and—thanks to an abundance of support—school is still in session at home.