Deciding whether to join
The decision to join Teach For America is an important one, and we encourage applicants to gather as much information as possible and talk to a range of people to make an informed decision. To help you in your decision making process, we offer the following resources:
Corps Member and Alumni Perspectives on How They Made Their Decision
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Common Concerns and Answers
Can I become a good teacher?
- Teach For America has developed a network of supports and resources that are designed to help corps members climb the inevitable learning curve as quickly as possible.
- We search for people who demonstrate the qualities that define successful teachers. These qualities include: high expectations for students and a deep commitment to helping them meet those expectations; perseverance in the face of obstacles; the ability to influence and motivate others and to operate with the respect and humility necessary to build collaborative relationships; and the problem-solving and organizational ability necessary to manage all the demands facing teachers.
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Will the Summer Institute adequately prepare me to teach?
- We provide corps members with the pre-service training necessary to gain the skills and knowledge we know are necessary to succeed. And, we provide a two-year structured program of ongoing support and professional development to help corps members achieve success with their students.
- Along with their formal network of support, corps members often collaborate with each other and with other teachers in their schools by sharing techniques and approaches that work in their classrooms, and participating in efforts to support the communities in which they work. Often, corps members live in houses or apartment complexes together, host potlucks or weekly study sessions, and get together socially.
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Will Teach For America lead me off my career track and/or prolong the path to my goals?
- Alumni say that the responsibility associated with teaching in a low-income community and taking ownership of their students’ academic progress is far greater than that of any entry level job they considered. You will refine your leadership, communication and presentation skills, while also sharpening your ability to problem solve, think strategically and influence and motivate others. You will also test yourself in new ways that will help bolster your inner strength and enhance your self-awareness. Hear from alumni who share their views on the Teach For America experience.
- More than 100 graduate schools, including top-ranked programs in business, law, medicine, education, public policy, and the sciences and engineering, seek out our alumni. Benefits include two-year deferrals and scholarships.
- Over 20 leading employers, including Accenture, Deloitte, GE, Goldman Sachs, Google, JPMorgan Chase, Lehman Brothers, McKinsey & Company, and Wachovia, offer benefits such as two-year deferrals, internships and career mentoring.
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Will the Teach For America commitment meet my financial needs?
- As a corps member, you are paid a full teacher’s salary ranging from $27,000 to $47,000, depending on your placement region, and receive full health benefits.
- Over your two years, you are also eligible to receive an AmeriCorps education award of $9,450*.
- To help cover moving and start-up costs, Teach For America offers no-interest loans and transitional grants in packages ranging from $1,000 to $6,000, and all of your major expenses during the summer institute are also covered (e.g., housing and food).
- Additionally, many of our graduate school partners award scholarships to Teach For America alumni, including top-ranked programs in education, public policy, business, law, medicine and the sciences and engineering.
- Learn more about financial arrangements with Teach For America.
*While Teach For America is currently a member of AmeriCorps, we cannot guarantee these benefits for the 2009 corps given the nature of the AmeriCorps competitive grant process and the dependence on congressional funding cycles. Teach For America anticipates receiving final confirmation on education awards for next year in spring 2009.
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Networking to Learn More About Teach For America
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Who we're looking for
Corps and Alumni