2008 Woodie Awards
Alumni influence struggling schools
TOM MARINE
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
A University alum is coming back to campus to speak about her experience as a Teach for America corps member.
Missy Ball, who graduated in 2006 as a telecommunications major, said she is going to talk about her time teaching at Turner Middle School in Atlanta and the impact college graduates can have on the public education system.
Teach for America is holding information sessions next Wednesday and Thursday night in the Student Learning Center.
"I've never done anything so challenging," Ball said. "But I really feel like I'm doing something. I love my kids and my school."
Teach for America Recruitment Director Ann Bradley Robbins said the corps wants students from all fields to gain this experience and become better leaders in the future. She said that is the best way to end education inequality.
"We work our butts off for these kids," said Robbins, who spent two years teaching for the corps. "We set really high standards because we can't have anyone quit on the students."
Robbins said she receives aid from four University students to help spread the word around campus about what Teach for America offers.
Blake Zimmerman, a senior from Atlanta, said he helps Robbins by finding the best prospects and getting them to consider applying. He said he also puts up flyers and gives five speeches every week in classrooms.
"The organization sees inadequacy in education as the nation's biggest injustice," Zimmerman said. "I want to be part of the solution."
In addition to helping children learn, Robbins said Teach for America provides a great start to a career in any field.
Teach for America ranked 10th in a recent ranking on best places to launch a career, according to the BusinessWeek Web site.
Ball said the importance of teaching at low-income schools is great enough for college graduates to delay higher education such as law or medical school.
"It's these kids' lives that are at stake," Ball said. "We go into this wanting to save the world, but saving the world happens one child at a time."
Missy Ball, who graduated in 2006 as a telecommunications major, said she is going to talk about her time teaching at Turner Middle School in Atlanta and the impact college graduates can have on the public education system.
Teach for America is holding information sessions next Wednesday and Thursday night in the Student Learning Center.
"I've never done anything so challenging," Ball said. "But I really feel like I'm doing something. I love my kids and my school."
Teach for America Recruitment Director Ann Bradley Robbins said the corps wants students from all fields to gain this experience and become better leaders in the future. She said that is the best way to end education inequality.
"We work our butts off for these kids," said Robbins, who spent two years teaching for the corps. "We set really high standards because we can't have anyone quit on the students."
Robbins said she receives aid from four University students to help spread the word around campus about what Teach for America offers.
Blake Zimmerman, a senior from Atlanta, said he helps Robbins by finding the best prospects and getting them to consider applying. He said he also puts up flyers and gives five speeches every week in classrooms.
"The organization sees inadequacy in education as the nation's biggest injustice," Zimmerman said. "I want to be part of the solution."
In addition to helping children learn, Robbins said Teach for America provides a great start to a career in any field.
Teach for America ranked 10th in a recent ranking on best places to launch a career, according to the BusinessWeek Web site.
Ball said the importance of teaching at low-income schools is great enough for college graduates to delay higher education such as law or medical school.
"It's these kids' lives that are at stake," Ball said. "We go into this wanting to save the world, but saving the world happens one child at a time."
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