Our corps members
Placement regions
Corps and Alumni
Memphis
Many people are drawn to Memphis by the city’s rich musical tradition, cultural history, and the promise of the world’s best barbecue. Known as the “Home of the Blues”, Memphis has a vibrant culture and offers the amenities of a large city while retaining the community feel of a small town.
| Quick Stats |
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| Site Since: 2006 |
| Corps Size: 100 |
| Average summer temperature: 80 ° Average winter temperature: 43 ° |
| Car: Access to car is essential |
| Beginning Teacher's Salary : $39,000-46,000 |
Memphians are proud of the city’s history, but our city is also moving forward. Driven by the stark reality that only six percent of Memphis City Schools graduates are “college ready” according to the ACT, educators in Memphis are ready to make some drastic changes. The region's determination to improve teacher quality has recently placed Memphis City Schools in the running for a $100,000,000 grant from the Gates Foundation.
Teach For America • Memphis will welcome its largest corps yet in 2010, dramatically increasing the impact that we are able to have on the students of our city. The 2010 corps will work with Tennessee’s newly redefined curriculum standards that seek to provide students with a college and career-ready education and have the opportunity to make a dramatic impact in the classroom and beyond, with school leadership opportunities through New Leaders for New Schools, Building Excellent Schools and the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP). Memphis has truly embraced education reform and the role that Teach For America can play in that reform.
Life
Given Memphis’ variety of neighborhoods and relatively low cost of living, corps members have a number of housing options. Some choose the Downtown district, the city's definitive entertainment center, alive with restaurants, cafes, bars, and numerous cultural venues With condominiums, apartments, and houses continuously popping up, the Downtown population of about 25,000 continues to grow.
Most corps members opt to live in Midtown houses and apartments. Midtown is a central area that offers university-style settings amidst parks and trendy entertainment venues.
Corps Culture
The Memphis corps is close-knit. Corps members take advantage of Memphis attractions and explore the city’s rich cultural programs together In the past, the Orpheum Theatre has donated tickets for corps members to see plays in the Broadway Series. Corps members also take advantage of the musical entertainment the city has to offer, including Beale Street.
The close community enables corps members and staff to have effective professional relationships, too. Corps members meet with their program directors to receive individualized support after classroom observation throughout the year. Additionally, corps members meet with others who teach the same grade or content for specialized collaboration. No matter what the venue - whether at a professional development session or informal gatherings at a coffee shops, corps members and staff constantly strive to ensure that their students are receiving the education they deserve.
