The Teach for America program has one goal: to give all kids access to a better education by assigning college students and graduates to teach in disadvantaged areas.
TFA began in 1990 with 500 college graduates dedicated to the cause of eliminating inequality in education. The program now boasts approximately 33,000 college students and graduates who have reached nearly 3 million children total, according to their website.
TFA has one of the hardest screening processes for potential employees, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.
The number of applications has doubled in the last seven years, ranging from approximately 25,000 in 2008 to more than 50,000 today. TFA only accepted 14 percent of applicants this past year.
Current Auburn student Dillon Nettles, senior in political science, and recent Auburn graduates Lindsay Heim and Christine Acker were chosen to participate in the program.
"I'm most excited for the relationships I hope to build," Nettles said. "It will be the most exciting, but also most challenging part. I want to be (the kids') every resource for everything they need, even if I can play only a small role in their daily lives. I want to watch the kids grow through all the ups and downs from the beginning of the school year to the end."
Nettles said he is excited to start his time with TFA during 2015-16 school year. He will teach middle school English in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"I just want to jump in and combat the issue of educational inequality," Nettles said.
Heim majored in biomedical science and is currently teaching seventh- and eighth-grade science at McNair Junior High School in Huntsville through TFA.
"I was nervous going into teaching since I was not an education major and did not have any classroom experience," Heim said. "But through training this summer and all of the professional development sessions offered, I am confident that I am prepared to provide my students the education they deserve."
Overall, Heim said she enjoys the program and is thrilled to be involved with an organization "whose passion for their students is truly contagious."
Christine Acker was an elementary education major at Auburn. She applied to TFA open to the idea of teaching middle school or high school, but was placed as an Elementary Generalist, EC-6, when accepted into the program. Acker said her education prepared her well for the job.
"Teaching fourth graders who have seen more in life than I have seen in my 23 years has its incredibly challenging days, but it's insanely rewarding, and that's why I can say I love what I do," Acker said. "I joined TFA over approaching other teaching opportunities because I firmly believe it is not only my responsibility, but our responsibility as a nation to do what we can to better the lives of those around us."
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