Americorps Teach For America Discussion Session What Is

Americorps & Teach For America Discussion Session

• What Is Prosperity?

A New Car?

A Big House?

A High Paying Job?

The Meaning of Prosperity • By Benjamin Akande , Chair, Division of Business Administration at Wayland Baptist University

• • • What will you look for in a career? A. Affiliation B. Challenge C. Creativity D. Security E. Variety F. Leadership G. Recognition F. Sense of Duty

Things to Think about in your selection process Think about the type of environment you thrive best in What kind of energy do you have? (Are you spontaneous or methodical? ) Take an inventory of your skills and abilities What is the mission of the company? What is the philosophy of the company?

How would you like to“make a difference” “contribute to the greater good” gain valuable work experience earn money to attend graduate school and pay back student loans

What Can you Gain from Americorps and Teach for America? Working with these organizations can enhance your professional resume. “When you help others, you help yourself, because you build character, and character is one of the keys to a successful career. ”- John Reynolds You can make new and important contacts Increase your profile-you will meet people inside and outside your industry Learn new skills-you will discover aptitudes you might not otherwise learn to possess

Great learning opportunities can be hard to come by, but you can pick up new skills in these two programs Learn what others have to say or offer in situations you normally wouldn’t venture You can work for an organization that changes your life and your career

• If you are looking for a career in which you can help others, work for a cause you believe in, gain a sense of accomplishment, learn new skills, gain valuable work experience and further your career goals. • You might consider an Americorps* program

Who Serves in Americorps? • Ameri. Corps is a network of national service programs that engage more than 50, 000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. Ameri. Corps members serve through more than 2, 100 nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based organizations. They tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, run after-school programs, and help communities respond to disasters. Created in 1993, Ameri. Corps is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. Together these programs engage more than 2 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service each year.

Americorps Members Bring: • Safer Streets • Better Schools • Strengthen Communities • Help Citizens to Become Active Participants in the Growth of their Community

Americorps was started in 1993 as part of the corporation for National and Community Service § Americorps is open to U. S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents § Participants receive living subsidies plus a substantial post service educational stipend to be used to pay off acquired educational debts or to finance future education and training. § Since you are working for the government, you are more likely to receive consideration for other government positions

Contact Information: § More Information To learn more about joining Ameri. Corps, go to www. americorps. org/joining or call 1 -800 -942 -2677 or (TTY 1 -800 -8333722).

One Members Story § Tara Holtgrewe § Hometown: Williamstown, WV Education: BS, Chemistry Ameri. Corps Projects: Ameri. Corps*NCCC Charleston, SC Why I decided to serve I thought about doing the Peace Corps but being away from home for years was a concern. A friend told me about this program as an alternative. I decided to join for the experience. There's so much you can't learn from books and I've been learning from books my whole life. Now, I want to learn from experiences. What made the biggest impact on me Teaching chemistry to high school kids because I got to see them progress from frustration to enjoyment and understanding Future Plans Run a marathon, backpack Europe, drive cross-country to see the US, and teach while I apply to medical school. . § § Next Member Story | Previous Member Story

§ “One thing I know, the only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought and found how to serve” § Albert Schweitzer

Teach for America § Every year 2000 individuals join Teach for America. Each person is placed in a full time teaching position in rural and public schools. § The selection process is rigorous and only the most promising applicants are chosen for a day long interview that includes group discussions, a personal interview, and a sample teaching lesson. § Applicants will be notified two to three weeks after the interview day.

A Brief History of Teach for America n Are we making progress? Since 1990, more than 10, 000 exceptional individuals have joined Teach For America. Collectively, they have directly impacted the lives of more than 1. 5 million students. After two years in the classroom, more than 60 percent of Teach For America alumni remain in education as teachers, principals, school founders, and policy advisors. Others have gone on to work in other fields such as law, medicine, business, and social work. Armed with the insight and sense of injustice gained through their classroom experience, alumni continue working to increase opportunities for children living in low-income communities. Where are we seeing results? Teach For America chooses the communities in which we place based primarily on the extent of the need for our corps members and the impact these teachers can have as a force for increasing academic achievement in public schools in the region.

Where Corp Members are teaching: n n Where would I teach? Applicants indicate their preferences for regional sites, grade levels, and subject areas on interview day. Teach For America works to meet these preferences while meeting districts' needs and considering district and state requirements. This year, we were able to place 95% of our accepted applicants in one of their highly preferred sites and 99% in one of their highly preferred or preferred sites. Our Regions Teach For America corps members currently teach in 20 urban and rural areas where they are needed most. While reading, keep in mind that there are many common elements to the resources available to corps members in all regions. No matter which region you become most interested in, you will find unique cultural activities, challenging professional experiences, and corps member friends and colleagues with whom you will share a life-changing experience. Atlanta Baltimore Bay Area Chicago Detroit Greater New Orleans Houston Los Angeles Miami Mississippi Delta New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Philadelphia Phoenix Rio Grande Valley S. Louisiana St. Louis Washington, D. C.

What can I expect to be paid? n n n You would be paid directly by the school district in which you work. As high as $41, 000 and as low as $25, 000 You will also be eligible forbearance on most student loans during your service and you will also receive an educational award of $9, 450 for your two years of service to pay off student loans or to further your education

Training Process n n Corp members teach summer school during the morning and early afternoon. During the afternoon and evening corp members attend workshops, discussions, and meet with experienced educators. While corp members do not have teacher certification, they are required to meet specific requirements. Members have to pass certain exams and will be required to take ongoing courses before they begin teaching.

Position Yourself n n n a. These graduate schools offer a two year deferral to students who are admitted to their programs and choose to join Teach For America*: Business Schools Harvard Business School (applicable to graduating college seniors only) Rice University - Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management University of Michigan Business School (applicable to graduating college seniors only) Government/Public Policy Programs Brandeis University - Heller School for Social Policy and Management Harvard University - John F. Kennedy School of Government Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs New York University - Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service Princeton University - Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs

Benefits for Teach for America Members n n . These graduate schools offer benefits such as fellowships, course credits, grants, and waived application fees to our alumni who are accepted into their programs: Business Schools Rice University - Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management n n n University of Chicago Graduate School of Business n Waives application fee University of Michigan Business School n n n Waives application fee Consideration for special scholarships ranging from $5, 000 - $20, 000 Education Schools Fordham University Graduate School of Education n n Waives application fee (for applications submitted within two years of completed corps member term) Provides a scholarship for corps members and alumni up to $10, 000 annually Provides a 25% tuition scholarship (approx. $6, 000 - $7, 000 benefit) to alumni enrolled in a master's or professional diploma program Government/Public Policy Programs Brandeis University - Heller School for Social Policy and Management n n Waives application fee Provides $4, 725 in tuition assistance n n Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs n Grants six academic credits in consideration of Teach For America experience n n New School University - Robert J. Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy n n Waives application fee n Provides $5, 000 in tuition assistance for up to two years ($10, 000 benefit) New York University - Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service n n Waives application fee for exiting corps members and alumni Provides a minimum of $4, 725 in tuition assistance for up to five Teach For America alumni annually, renewable for a second year provided the applicable alumnus remains in good academic standing ($9, 500 benefitl) n n Syracuse University - Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Policy n Provides $5, 000 in tuition assistance

Due to the rigorous selection process, admission staff and hiring officers know alumni of Teach for America have proven their ability to manage others to achieve ambitious goals, problem solve, communicate well in small and large groups and plan strategically n n n n c. Employers value the leadership skills and experience that distinguish Teach For America corps members and recruit them after their commitment. Many organizations including government agencies, public policy and research organizations, consulting and finance firms, non-profit organizations, and major school districts, consider Teach For America corps members strong candidates for employment and participate in a resume collection each year. Some of these include: Accenture Bain & Company Boston Consulting Group Breakthrough/Summerbridge Civitas Department of Education Goldman Sachs Monitor Group Morgan Stanley Scholastic, Inc. The Capital Group Companies

Application Deadline: n n October 24, 2003 and February 15, 2004 For more information please contact Teach for America at admissions@teachforamerica. org or at 1800 -832 -1230 x 225 or go to http: //www. teachforamerica. org

Resources: Volunteerism Edited by Frank Mc. Guckin The Halo Effect How Volunteering Can Lead To A More Fulfilling Life and a Better Career By: John Raynolds http: //www. americorps. org http: //www. teachforamerica. org http: //www. nycares. org http: //www. give. org http: //www. servenet. org

Evaluation Questions n Use: n n n a. Strongly agree b. Agree c. Disagree d. Strongly disagree e. Don’t know n 1. I found the presentation of material easy to understand. n 2. This Advantage session increased my knowledge on the subject. n 3. I will be able to use some of the information from this Advantage session in the future. n 4. The presentation was well prepared for this advantage session. n 5. This presentation should be repeated in future semesters.