Teaching program is alternative for new grads

Graduation day is quickly approaching for the class of 2003 and with their hard-earned diplomas, thousands of young college graduates are thrust into the real world, many asking themselves "What next?" Teach for America could answer that question for many college grads. \nThe application deadline for graduating seniors who wish to be in the program is Feb. 21. \nStarted in 1991 by Wendy Kopp as part of her senior project at Princeton University, the program is now in its 13th year of existence. Teach for America is a corps of recent college graduates from all academic majors who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools, according to its Web site.\nThe program has a number of benefits for grads who have chosen to become a part of the program. College graduates are given the opportunity to travel to one of 18 different areas around the country and make a life for themselves there. Once located at the teaching site, the new teachers go through a rigorous training session the summer before the school year begins. After completing this training, participants are ready to begin their experience as teachers. \nCorps members are not working as volunteers, but receive full-time teacher salaries plus benefits. In addition, Teach for America educators also receive a stipend that can be used to pay back student loans or to pay for schooling toward an education degree, which is required if the teacher chooses to continue teaching once the two-year commitment requirement is complete.\nSenior Sarah Assenmacher is hoping to be accepted to the program after she graduates next year. Teach for America appeals to people for many different reasons, but Assenmacher is most excited about the change of scenery it could provide.\n"The fact that I could move to a completely new city and have a guaranteed job there for two years is really nice," Assenmacher said. "I think right now my first choice for a teaching location would be Atlanta."\nOf course, in addition to the rewards that teachers receive, there are benefits for the students at these schools as well. \nSenior Lindsay Schoenfeld first became involved with Teach for America last year and is now working as the campaign coordinator for the IU organization. Schoenfeld has had the opportunity to work with many people who have already taught in the program and feel it is a positive experience for the teachers and their students.\n"People who have participated in TFA agree that it is a challenge," she said. "There are days when (teachers) want to pull their hair out, but more often, there are days when they see a light in a child's eyes who once couldn't read at all and now is reading full sentences."\nGraduate student Carla Seeger said she agreed with Schoenfeld. She said she feels the experience can be incredibly rewarding.\nSeeger was a participant in Teach for America after she graduated from the University of Miami in 1998 and is now working as an alumni recruiter and a campus representative at IU to help get others involved in the program. Although she is no longer teaching, the experiences she had are still a big part of her.\n"I will forever be 'Ms. Seeger, that crazy math teacher' to my students," Seeger said. "I know that I made a difference in the lives of children, and that is such a powerful feeling."\nIU currently ranks second in the nation in number of applicants to Teach for America. \nFor more information on Teach for America or to apply for the program, visit www.teachforamerica.org.