Teach for America offers college grads a great job, opportunity to serve others
By Carli Harris
Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: News
College graduates who are interested in teaching or simply looking for a job should know about Teach for America, a national service organization that provides college grads with an opportunity to teach school in communities that desperately need them.
The program is open to college graduates in all majors from all backgrounds, regardless of age. Math, science, and engineering majors are especially encouraged to apply. Some of the requirements include a 2.5 cumulative GPA, U.S. citizenship, and a respect for students in low-income communities. The benefits include a salary ranging from $27,000 to $47,000 a year (or more for applicants with a masters or P.h.D.) depending on the region they work in, health benefits, $9,450 toward the payment of future or current student loans, transitional grants and no-interest loans to cover relocation and start-up costs for those who need them, and scholarship opportunities.
According to a 2007 independent survey, 94 percent of principals who employ Teach for America teachers at their schools reported that the teachers have made a positive impact, and 95 percent of them rated Teach for America teachers as being as effective as or more effective than other beginning teachers in terms of overall performance. In the 2008-2009 school year, there were 6,200 Teach for America members in 29 different regions teaching at more than 1,000 schools nationwide and making a difference in the lives of an estimated 430,000 students. Teach for America has more than 14,000 alumni, and 93 percent of them are still supporting Teach for America's mission through career, philanthropy, volunteer work or graduate study.
For more information, please visit www.teachforamerica.org
The program is open to college graduates in all majors from all backgrounds, regardless of age. Math, science, and engineering majors are especially encouraged to apply. Some of the requirements include a 2.5 cumulative GPA, U.S. citizenship, and a respect for students in low-income communities. The benefits include a salary ranging from $27,000 to $47,000 a year (or more for applicants with a masters or P.h.D.) depending on the region they work in, health benefits, $9,450 toward the payment of future or current student loans, transitional grants and no-interest loans to cover relocation and start-up costs for those who need them, and scholarship opportunities.
According to a 2007 independent survey, 94 percent of principals who employ Teach for America teachers at their schools reported that the teachers have made a positive impact, and 95 percent of them rated Teach for America teachers as being as effective as or more effective than other beginning teachers in terms of overall performance. In the 2008-2009 school year, there were 6,200 Teach for America members in 29 different regions teaching at more than 1,000 schools nationwide and making a difference in the lives of an estimated 430,000 students. Teach for America has more than 14,000 alumni, and 93 percent of them are still supporting Teach for America's mission through career, philanthropy, volunteer work or graduate study.
For more information, please visit www.teachforamerica.org
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