Teach For America is growing the movement of leaders who work to ensure that kids growing up in poverty get

an excellent education.
http://www.teachforamerica.org/our-mission

VISIONARY FIGURE: Wendy Kopp

TeachForAmerica founder
Graduate of Highland Park High School (Dallas area) Bachelors from Princeton University Proposed in her thesis a vision to make a positive difference in the world by teaching in economically disadvantaged schools

Predicting the Future

For the last 90 years, San Antonios demographics and population growth have predicted population change in Texas and the U.S. When we close the achievement gap in San Antonio, we will have proof that it can be done across the country.
http://www.teachforamerica.org/where-we-work/san-antonio

Growing the Corps

Currently, there are 95 corps members teaching in classrooms throughout the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD). By 2015, we will double the size of our incoming corps and, as a result, impact more than 40% of SAISD students.
http://www.teachforamerica.org/where-we-work/san-antonio

Reversing the Trend

San Antonio is a fast growing metropolitan area, but the inner city has lost population and high-school dropout rates in low-income communities have soared to 40%. Teach For America San Antonio started in 2010 to help reverse that trend, bringing 97 corps members to teach in SAISD and KIPP.

http://www.teachforamerica.org/why-teach-for-america/where-and-what-youll-teach

How do you indicate where and what youd like to teach?

Step 1 Tell us your regional preferences Step 2 Indicate Your Grade-Level and Subject Preference Step 3 Let Us Know about Special Circumstances Step 4 Identify Institute Conflicts

SAN ANTONIO AREA CORPS

CONTACT US Teach For America San Antonio One Riverwalk Place 700 North Saint Marys Street Suite 200 San Antonio, TX 78205 p 210.424.5800, f 210.212.4442 Laura Saldivar, Executive Director laura.saldivar@teachforameri ca.org
Message from the Executive Director Laura Saldivar
San Antonio is a city with ambitious goals, both in education and beyond, that currently faces two big challenges

the achievement gap and the talent gap.

While the north side population is growing, the inner city is steadily decreasing in population, and public schools within Highway Loop 410 are suffering.

We are placing corps members in those inner city schools with the goal of helping current students excel and then attracting additional students to the inner city district.

Teacher Certification Information

Our corps members earn Texas teacher certification through Texas Teaching Fellows (TTF), a non-profit alternative certification program created by The New Teacher Project.
http://texasteachingfellows.org/

All Texas teacher candidates are required to demonstrate content mastery in their teaching subject area via a series of state exams, and TTF offers corps members online test prep webinars and practice TExES exams.
In order to be recommended for a Standard Certificate, corps members must:
successfully complete a full year of teaching in the same position fulfill all tuition and testing requirements remain in good standing with the program and school district demonstrate a positive impact on student achievement receive a positive recommendation from their principal
http://www.teachforamerica.org/where-we-work/san-antonio/expenses-and-certification

How to Apply
http://www.teachforamerica.org/why-teach-for-america/how-to-apply

panel Applicants to Teach For America must submit an online application by one of our five deadlines
August 19, 2011 September 16, 2011 October 26, 2011 January 6, 2012 February 10, 2012

Applications are non-binding. Subsequent rounds of the admissions process can include an online activity, phone interview, and final inperson interview. If you are accepted to the corps, you will attend our summer training institute in summer 2012 and begin teaching in fall 2012 regardless of the deadline by which you apply.

 An alternative licensure program that enables recent college graduates without state licensure to teach in hard to staff schools following a short period (during the summer) of training and supervision. Candidates must possess a bachelors degree and commit to 2 years of teaching

FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF SAN ANTONIO TEACH FOR AMERICA GRADUATES TEACHING IN THE LOCAL AREA

Brandon McKinney
San Antonio Corps 2010 Teaches at: Dorie Miller Elementary Undergraduate: Wabash College, Rhetoric and African American Studies, Class of 2010 I go to work each day knowing that I am having an immediate impact on my community and on the students who depend on me. Q&A Why does it matter to you that we provide an excellent education for children growing up in lowincome communities? I grew up in a single parent household where my mother worked tirelessly to ensure that my brother and I had all we needed. She always instilled in us that a good education would be our key to success, a message I have never forgotten. What additional impact do you think you were able to have because you shared the same background as your students? As a teacher of color, I feel my students are able to see firsthand that it's possible to reach a certain level of success regardless of race or ethnicity. I look like the people in their immediate community, their relatives, and their friends and am able to relate with their economic background as well. I teach them to never use any of those as an excuse. What is it like being a corps member? How is being a corps member similar or different to what you initially envisioned? I imagined that being a corps member would be difficult, but I did not know the challenges I would face. Regardless, I love each moment I spend with my students and know they deserve a teacher who cares. This is why I give my all each day.

http://www.teachforamerica.org/where-we-work/san-antonio

David Nungaray
San Antonio Corps 2010 Teaches at: Bonham Academy Undergraduate: Chapman University, Political Science and Spanish, Class of 2010 I firmly believe being a corps member is an honor. The work we do is utterly important and each day we have with our students matters. Q&A How have you addressed the issues of diversity and inclusiveness in your classroom? I created a welcoming environment in my classroom from day one. It was very important for me to be proactive about dealing with issues such as bullying, hurtful comments, and derogatory language. As issues have arisen, I address them and seek out resources to help my students understand how to make responsible decisions when interacting with others. Why does it matter to you that we provide an excellent education for children growing up in lowincome communities? It is an injustice not to give a child the opportunity to attain an education that prepares them for success in life. It matters to me personally because I grew up in a community much those that Teach For America serves, and I should not have been the exception. Every single one of my friends should have had the same opportunities as I did. What do you see yourself doing after the corps? How might the corps experience shape that? After the corps, I hope to stay in the classroom, but my long term goal is to work in either higher education with underrepresented groups at the college level or with a nonprofit focused on college access. Working with my students has absolutely shaped my decision to stay in the classroom and has built my interests in college access and success.

http://www.teachforamerica.org/where-we-work/san-antonio

Kelly Murguia
San Antonio Corps 2010 Teaches at: Luther Burbank High School Undergraduate: Brown University, Commerce, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship, Class of 2010 Every single child needs and deserves an education that will prepare them for the future and someone to believe in them. I wanted to be that person. Q&A What is it like being a corps member? How is being a corps member similar or different to what you initially envisioned? I feel extremely blessed to be a corps member in this educational movement. I am grateful for the knowledge, skills and support that TFA has helped establish in my life as an educator. I knew that the teaching profession would be challenging, but I never knew just how many roles a teacher must fill. What additional impact do you think you were able to have because you shared the same background as your students? While teaching English as a Second Language, I have noticed that I am able to apply cultural sensitivity to my students, which I learned through similar life experiences. This ensures a comfortable space to learn and ask questions. This leads to more successful instruction where students are willing to open their minds to learn. What have you achieved in the classroom that makes you proud? What's the hardest thing about teaching? I am proud that I have meaningful relationships with my students and that they know that I care about them and their futures. The hardest thing about teaching is that there is not enough time to accomplish everything that needs to be done, but I learned that I must prioritize and execute what I can.

http://www.teachforamerica.org/where-we-work/san-antonio

Leslie Holland
San Antonio Corps 2010 Teaches at: Thomas Jefferson High School Undergraduate: University of South Florida, French, Class of 2000 All children deserve an excellent education. I joined Teach For America to make a difference and to help shape our country's future. Q&A Can you describe how Teach For America's training and support have helped you develop as a teacher? I had taught for several years before I came to Teach For America, which made me somewhat of a non-traditional corps member. I was very impressed with Teach For America's training at Institute and it really gave me a solid foundation for planning my upcoming year and helped put things in perspective. I think all teachers should have to go to Institute! What is it like being a corps member? How is being a corps member similar or different to what you initially envisioned? I knew being a corps member would be hard, but it has certainly challenged me in ways I was not expectingmentally, physically, and mostly emotionally. Having said that, I wouldn't change my decision to join the San Antonio corps. Why did you decide to join the corps? I joined the corps for several reasons, but primarily because I believe in the movement. After experiencing the achievement gap firsthand in high school as a magnet student in an inner city school, I wanted to be a part of the change in our system and work to provide all students with an excellent education.

http://www.teachforamerica.org/where-we-work/san-antonio