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In spring 2008, Markita Harris was pursuing a political science degree at Xavier University in New Orleans, with plans to go to law school. Then she visited a friend who had joined Teach For America and watched her lead a classroom of spirited middle-schoolers. “When I saw what was going on in her classroom, I really wanted to be a part of it,” Markita recalls. “I had heard stories from her about her teaching experience, and I always felt strongly about the value of education. But being able to meet the kids and see her impact on them and how they interacted with her convinced me that I wanted to teach.”
Inspired by her friend's classroom, Markita applied to become one of more than 8,200 Teach For America corps members who are teaching in low-income urban and rural communities across the country. That fall, Markita began teaching third grade at Brookstown Elementary School in East Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
National statistics compiled by researchers and the federal government suggest a grim academic future for the students in Markita's school: By fourth grade, children growing up in low-income communities are, on average, three grade levels behind their wealthier peers. They have no more than a 50 percent chance of graduating from high school, and those who do graduate will perform at the level of eighth graders in high-income communities. Only 10 percent will graduate from college, compared with 80 percent of their affluent peers.
Jeff Wetzler is senior vice president of teacher preparation, support, and development and chief learning officer at Teach For America. He joined Teach For America in 2005 after working at Monitor Group, an international consulting firm focused on a range of strategic, organizational, and leadership issues. Wetzler also serves as vice chair of the founding boards of three Leadership Prep charter elementary schools in Brooklyn, NY.
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