Bennett College for Women News January 14, 2013 Teach for America Selects Three Among Bennett College’s Class of 2013 Three Bennett College seniors were selected as corps members for Teach for America (TFA), a non-profit organization that recruits recent graduates and professionals to teach in low-income communities. With 46 regions filled with 750,000 students, Delrisha White, Raven Williams and Usha Satish help make up more than 10,000 TFA educators. Coming from a variety of professional backgrounds, these corps members are offered advanced training before being released into the classroom. Where they are placed is in the hands of the organization. During the application process, thousands of hopefuls designate their preferred grade-level and core subject as well as favored locations. Ultimately, however, TFA places the corps members where they’re needed the most. Williams is Baltimore bound to teach English. It was a personal experience that first attracted this English major to the TFA program. A product of low-income schooling, Williams noticed something was different once she later enrolled within a prestigious public school system. “The teachers were more concerned, the school supplies were in abundance and college wasn't just an option—it was mandatory,” Williams said. “I think Teach for America gives people who are passionate about education the chance to really help out. I also think there is nothing more triumphant than a product of these targeted communities returning in order to give back.” Satish will strive to give back as a social studies teacher stationed in Miami. For this interdisciplinary studies major, the mission of TFA falls in line with her aspirations to be a global health ambassador. “I think my real interest comes from my passion for social justice which is at the heart of what Teach for America does. We’re providing quality and adequate education for students who are being hindered because of the way the system is set up. This isn’t just a teaching job for me; it’s ultimately about social justice,” she added. White is confident that TFA will enhance her future goals as well. A journalism and media studies major, she hopes to utilize her communication studies to enhance her own “entrepreneurial and social change venture.” “Education is a great start to use my skills and still have social impact. I am not putting my career goals on hold, but I am finding non-traditional ways to utilize my degree and skill set, and still simultaneously change lives and ultimately communities and the world for the betterment of all people,” White said. White will be stationed in Miami as an elementary education teacher, likely teaching fourth or fifth grade students. Both she and Satish will serve the Dade County Public Schools. For more information about TFA, visit http://www.teachforamerica.org/. BENNETT SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org><mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/><http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/><http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.