Thousands of Louisiana children have received a quality education and have gone on to college because of Teach For America.
-Former U.S. Senator John Breaux of Louisiana
Teach For America • South Louisiana is playing a critical role in improving schools and communities. This year, a corps of 90 of the nation’s top recent college graduates is working in underserved schools across South Louisiana to ensure that students facing the challenges of poverty are given the educational opportunities they deserve. Our alumni are leaders in the classroom, in education more broadly, and across all sectors. Together, they are making educational equity a reality in South Louisiana. Learn about living and teaching in South Louisiana.
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Executive Director |
Recent press releases
Recent press coverage
During the 2008-09 school year, 90 corps members are directly impacting the lives of more than 5,000 students in South Louisiana. Emily Jenkinson is one example of the tremendous difference our corps members are making.
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Emily Jenkinson (South Louisiana Corps '07) |
Upon entering the classroom, Emily Jenkinson found that her first grade students were unable to read and lacked the skills necessary to perform basic math operations. Not only did Emily have to get her students ready for the second grade, but she also had to re-teach many fundamental concepts they should have learned in kindergarten. Despite this tremendous challenge, Emily set high expectations and used encouraging chants and enthusiastic affirmations to ground her students in a positive environment conducive to learning. By the
end of the year, her class had achieved nearly two years of growth in reading, the highest reading and math scores at their school, and many ended the year performing higher than students already in the second grade. Corps members like Emily are currently working in 26 schools throughout South Louisiana.
Principal Satisfaction
*"Teach For America 2007 National Principal Survey,” Policy Studies Associates, July 2007.
Impact on Student
Achievement
A growing body of research shows that corps members have a positive impact on their students' achievement. Read more about our impact.
Student Profile
*Percentages vary depending on school district
South Louisiana: Corps Member Placement
| Assignment | % of Corps* |
|---|---|
| Pre-K, Kindergarten | 9% |
| Elementary School, Lower (1-2) | 14% |
| Elementary School, Upper (3-5) | 16% |
| Secondary Math | 18% |
| Secondary English | 25% |
| Secondary Science | 18% |
| Special Education | 4% |
*Percentages are rounded and do not add up to 100 percent; corps members who teach bilingual, ESL, or special education are also accounted for in the grade-level/subject placement percentages
Characteristics of the 2008 Corps
| Corps Profile | Top alma maters by market share* |
|---|---|
| Average GPA: 3.6 | Spelman College: 16% |
| Average SAT: 1320 | Morehouse College, Georgetown University, University of Chicago, Wake Forest University, Wesleyan University: 11% |
| Held leadership
roles on campus: 95% |
Duke University, Georgetown University, University of Chicago, Wake Forest University, Wesleyan University: 10% |
| People of color: 29% | Amherst College, Harvard University, Haverford University, Notre Dame University, Princeton University, Rice University: 9% |
*Percentage of senior classes who applied to Teach For America
Fostering Alumni Leadership for Systemic Change
As the number of corps members grows, so does our alumni base. By 2010, we will have over 775 Teach For America • South Louisiana alumni pursuing professional careers and impacting educational reform from every sector.
|
Allison El Koubi (South Louisiana Corps '00) |
Allison El Koubi taught for six years as an eighth grade English teacher at Jackson Middle School in East Feliciana Parish. In 2005, she was named Teacher of the Year and went on to earn a master’s degree in education administration from LSU and an MBA from Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium. Allison then returned to work at the KIPP Central City Academy in New Orleans before becoming the principal at Jackson Middle School. Teach For America corps members comprise 15 percent of Jackson’s faculty, and under Allison’s leadership, they are working relentlessly to provide better opportunities for their students and to eliminate the academic achievement gap.
Growing Our Impact: Funding Needs, 2007-2009
Each additional recruit is another dedicated teacher for children
growing up in low-income communities in South Louisiana,
and another talented leader with the insight and commitment
necessary to sustain the reform efforts underway, which is
critical to the ongoing vitality of our region.
| Year | Corps Size | Revenue Needs |
|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 |
74 |
$820,000 |
| 2008-09 |
95* |
$1 million* |
| 2009-10 |
105* |
$1.2 million* |
*projected |
We are grateful to have many supporters who generously contribute to our movement in South Louisiana. The foundations, corporations and individuals listed below have made it possible for Teach For America to continue to recruit, select, train, and support teachers who are working to eliminate educational inequity in our city.
| Advisory Board |
|---|
| Cordell Haymon (Chairman) Vice-President SGS Petroleum Service Corporation |
| Scott Ridley (Vice Chairman) Senior Vice President Regional Manager Business Banking Capital One, N.A. |
| Murphy Bell Attorney At Law Jackson and Bell Law Firm |
| Ty E. Carlos Vice-President JPMorgan Chase |
| Michael Gaudet CFO, Polymer Additives Albemarle Corporation |
| Willie Johnson Senior Vice-President of Community Development Baton Rouge Area Chamber |
| Dan Juneau (Emeritus) President Louisiana Association of Business and Industry |
| Linda Lightfoot Community Volunteer |
| Roger Moser Community Volunteer |
| Donna Saurage Community Volunteer |
| Harold Schoeffler Owner Manager Schoeffler Cadillac |
| Joseph G. “Joe” Simmons Attorney At Law |
| Karen Soniat Director, Communications and External Relations Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center |
| Larry Wilkinson Chemist ExxonMobil Refining & Supply Co. |
| Joanna Wurtele Community Volunteer |
| Lori Bertman (emerita) Bertman and Associates |
| William Jenkins (emeritus) Louisiana State University |
| Nanette Noland (emerita) The Powell Group |
| Jennifer Eplett Reilly (emerita) JER and Co. |
| Mary Ann Sternberg (emerita) Louisiana State University |
To support Teach For America • South Louisiana with a gift or to request additional information about our impact or finances, please contact:
Teach For America • South Louisiana
Michael Tipton, Executive Director
P.O. Box 65148
Baton Rouge, LA 70896
p 225.381.8163, f 225.381.8234
michael.tipton@teachforamerica.org
Michael Tipton joined Teach For America's staff in 2007 after co-founding and teaching for two years at Mott Hall Bronx High School in New York City. As a teacher, he created a team-taught and thematically based humanities program integrating freshman-level English and American history content, and ultimately led his students to an average increase of three years in American history proficiency as measured by the New York State Regents Exam. In addition, Tipton created an after-school economics program that prepared students for the rigors of the International Baccalaureate program, coordinated the school's service learning program, and served as the student council advisor. He graduated summa cum laude from Louisiana State University with dual degrees in political science and history and completed his M.S. in teaching social studies at Pace University in New York.
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