Jimmy Hopper (Greater Nashville, '11) may have originally found some humor in his students' mock job interviews, but they proved to him how serious they took the lesson when they hit the real job m
Lars Nelson (Memphis '09) recruited the students of Aubrey Nelson (Memphis '08) to pop the question.
Sophie Solomon (Nashville '10) shares how she realized the importance of exposing her students to parts of the city she took for granted.
Destinee Hodge (D.C. Region, '11) struggled to connect with a student, but a moment of kindness changed their relationship dynamic.
Margo Roen (Greater New Orleans, '05) reflects on teaching in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina and the important role teachers played in helping the city heal.
Estee Kelly (St. Louis, '03) and struggling student got their spirits lifted by one little letter and one big win.
Senior Vice President of Regional Operations Bradley Leon (GNO, '02) reflects on facing an imposing state assessment during his first year as a corps member.
Crischelle Navalta (R.G.V. '05) recalls a lesson that affected her students outside the four walls of her classroom.
Peter Gwynn Sackson (Houston '06) shares how he translated the lessons he learned in the corps to his career in politics and beyond.
When Eric DeSobe (Los Angeles '01) and his students entered a competition to build a bottle rocket, their performance surprises even themselves.
Liz Allen's (Colorado '09) commitment to education reform keeps her motivated to push the rigor in her classroom.
Jennifer Tschetter (Bay Area '10) comments on building a team with your student families:
Sam Gallardo (Dallas-Fort Worth '10) reflects on the impact of community involvement in his classroom:
Allen Miller (New York '11) reflects on his third grade students' journey to understand all the people who impact their education:
Erin Daugherty (South Louisiana '10) reflects on her plan for a positive classroom turnaround:
Allison Gross (Detroit '10) shares the story of her class of Changemakers:
Alice Grabe (Mississippi Delta '11) reflects on planning a student leadership dinner to celebrate and encourage leadership in her classroom, school, and community in Pine Bluff, AR:
Jamie Jenkins (Metro Atlanta '07) reflects on an educational inspiration and what it means to connect with her students' cores:
A student teaches Derrick Johnson (N.Y. '10) a lesson in resiliency when he refuses to back down from a challenging math problem.
Nicole Brenner (GNO '08) reflects on her own struggles transitioning from homeschooling to public school and commits to becoming an advocate for students who may not have a champion like her mother
Having the ability to see those of her second grade students who graduated high school, Elisa Hoffman (Mississippi Delta '96) realizes the limitations of her corps member experience and finds inspi
Cole Farnum's (RGV '06) chooses to take his literacy lessons to the student's community service assignments and forges a relationship that expands both of their abilities.
Steele Kizerian (D.C. Region '09) got creative with his classroom management in an effort to turnaround a rambunctious kindergarten class using a little mystery and a lot of imagination.
Sarah Solomon (N.Y. '10) wasn't satisfied with the results of her ninth grade self-contained special education class, so she coordinated a co-teaching initiative with amazing results.
In a moment, Rachel Oyola (Charlotte '07) is confronted with a taste of the low expectations and hostility facing her students.
Even the best plans face challenges. Tom DeRosa (RGV '03) shares some strategies to reset your classroom and get any situation back on track.
Sarah Hargis (San Antonio '10) and David Lopez (Houston '10) bonded at institute and used their shared background to strengthen their commitment to the movement and their classrooms.
Jenna Ortman (San Antonion '10) identifies the crucial moment after her first nine weeks when she transformed a student from class clown to role model.
Every day Alma Aguilar (San Antonio '10) becomes more urgent about reaching all of her students in the short time she has with them. And with some it's even shorter than she'd expected.
Moira Konrad (ENC '93) cooks up a moment of surprise to break up a fight and gain credibility for the rest of the school year.
In her first year of teaching, Sarah Elder (Mid-Atlantic '04) develops a long lasting, meaningful relationship with a veteran teacher across the hall.
A quiet student who suffered a traumatic experience opens up to Mark Adato (Hawai'i '09) and shows him the importance of really getting to know your students.
An impulsive student helps Lauren Hill (Connecticut '08) realize that you can't always give students the personal attention they need.
Molly Eigen (RGV '99) has a student with severe social anxiety and untapped potential.
Erin Fitzgerald (Mid-Atlantic '08) offers an ear and a shoulder to a student who's had too much death in his young life—and helps him see what he's got ahead of him.
Coming in to a new community, Sarah Martin (Hawai'i '06) goes from being a complete outsider to "Ms. Martin"—the teacher students WANT to have next year.
David, a student struggling with gang activity and trying to become a "new man," reveals the challenges of forming tight relationships with students and changes the course of Amy Frost's (NYC '09)
After building rapport during summer school, Janelle Scharon (Chicago '05) leverages additional resources to help two siblings push their own leadership.
Solomon is behind academically, has behavioral issues, and eventually ends up in foster care.
After a student's mother tells Anna Han (Memphis '10) that her son is "not on a college path," she is more determined than ever to help this student succeed in math and expand his opportunities.
After an overwhelming start, Joshua Aragon (Phoenix '03) considers leaving the corps—instead he redoubles his efforts and commits to change.
Building relationships can take time and patience, Ariel Weiser (Mid-Atlantic '10) discovers when faced with a potentially volatile student during his first year in the classroom.
When Bernard turns up without his glasses and develops migraines, Lauren Hawley (ENC '06) bumps up against the systemic issues of poverty and how tough things can get for our students.
Going above and beyond, Elizabeth Doctor (NYC '08) forges a relationship with a struggling student to help get him to school.
Breaking the cycle of illiteracy for a family is a tremendous task.
Ivana Smith (ENC '09) works with one student to ensure she will not repeat third grade a third time and pushes her to make a giant academic leap.
Katie Brodhead (Greater Newark '10) shares an innovative solution from when a very bright student was struggling with motivation.
When a student who typically got A's starts working at C-level in her class, Allison Lackey (St.
Ross Jensen (Greater Newark '06) develops an innovative system to call on kids in way they all thought was fair (something they'd asked for!).
Kate Crandall (Mid-Atlantic '09) tells a story of student growth, achievement and fostering the desire to be lifelong learners.
Nobody in Kalil's family ever attended college and he assumed the same would be true for him.
Upset by the conditions of their schools, parents at Andy Malone's (Mississippi Delta '08) school boycott the district, keeping their kids out of school and paving the way for real reform.
Audra Kosh (DC Region '10) makes an effort to involve families in her class—which leads to a dramatic turnaround for one student.
From day one Kirk Scarbrough (San Antonio '10) weaves the big goal of college into everything his first graders do.
A veteran teacher offers insight and advice to Jessica Bialecki (GNO '08) on becoming an integral part of the community.
Through shared private moments and reading sessions, Aubrey Jones (Detroit '02) boosts a combative student's confidence and shows her that she can achieve.
Poetry helps Don Jordan (Colorado '09) build a lasting relationship with a student who spent time living on the street and never really engaged in school.
Teach For America charter corps member Chiray Koo (LA '90) explains why she took on this mission and how she learned to have compassion for the communities we work with—and for her peers.
Shameek Robinson (Greater Newark '99) grew up in Newark and knew the ins and outs of the city and its people—something that helps him bond with his students and push them to greater levels of succe
Having never touched a violin, Alice Huguet (LA '06) learned and taught her students the instrument, helping to establish a music program at her school with a grant from The LA Philharmonic orchest
Figuring out how to prioritize teaching, building student relationships, and maintaining a personal life proves daunting for AJ Piper (Chicago '09)...until he finds his own sense of balance and tea
When a family member loses a job, two of Andy Morrison's (ENC '05) students become homeless—but they prove to be resilient and never lose their desire to help others.
Getting your students to trust you is hard work, but the payoff for Joseph Lee (Chicago '09) makes it all worthwhile.
A student acts up in Stephanie Halgren's (Houston '04) Pre-K classroom—but instead of letting him take over the class, she pushes him harder on the academic front.
When faced with a parent who was angry about her management style, Allison Duval (ENC '08) worked through the difficult conversations to come to a shared understanding.
Alicia Paulistin (Detroit '02) knows that it might be easier elsewhere—but she can tell you exactly why she's spent most of the last decade teaching in Detroit's beleaguered public schools.
At the end of his first year of teaching, Kevin Anderle (Atlanta '05) hears those magic words from one of his students.
A bit of tutoring helps one of Adam Geller's (St. Louis '06) students excel on a test—but he thinks he's being given bonus points just for showing up to their sessions.
