Jackson Elementary

I just wanted to let you all know that I was hired yesterday! I was switched from special education into 1st grade gen. ed at Jackson Elementary School. I already met some of my kids at their summer school and met other CMs who are working at the same school. My boss cooked etouffe (sp?) and no-bakes for us as a celebration, but I still haven't experienced any crawfish. I'll keep you posted on that.

Louisiana is so wonderful, and extremely humid! I swam with a bullfrog at a CM's house the other night and heard stories about armadillo crossings and hurricanes. I am expected to close on an apartment with a really lovely fellow 2009 CM by tomorrow - rent is $250/mo. TWO. HUNDRED. FIFTY. As a girl from New York, my jaw just hit the floor. This place is so different from home!!

I'm loving it out here, even though I'm constantly exhausted from being in sessions all day. I hope you all are well!

Where the Green Palm Grows

Hello everyone! Thanks to Dave for starting this blog, as I think it will prove a really helpful outlet for venting, brainstorming, collaborating, etc.

I suppose, since I don't really know either Ambika or Haley, that I should introduce myself a bit! My name's Amanda Ward and I'm originally from two hours north of NYC (little town called Wingdale), so you might imagine what a huge change my move to Baton Rouge has been. I was accepted 5DL and southern schools start early, so I only had three weeks to graduate, move to New Jersey with my fiance, take care of any lingering logistical issues back at home, and start my prework. Needless to say, it's been insanely hectic and I haven't finished my work; but fortunately TFA has been lenient and generally helpful for those of us in such a tight situation.

Anyway, I joined TFA in the hopes of teaching in Brooklyn so I could stay somewhat central to my family and friends, but still have my own life in the city. Ever since I heard about the program my freshman year, I've been sort of peripherally interested in joining but didn't really give it any serious thought. After doing some theatre-as-community-outreach work with low-income students in Massachusetts, I decided flat out that I wanted to contribute to the expansion of educational opportunities for all students. TFA seemed like a fantastic outlet for a number of reasons, including the alternate certification for non-Ed minors like me and the suggestion that creative teaching methods were highly encouraged. It's funny that I ended up in South Louisiana teaching Special Education since I put those two things down as a "they'll place me there if they need me that much" thing on my application. It isn't what I would have ever expected, but I feel really blessed that this has come to me (even if I am scared to death).

I decided to check in today because my mother and I just drove through the night from New Jersey to Baton Rouge and I wanted to let you all know that I'm gearing up for my Induction on Tuesday!!! I live in a place with palm trees!!!! I can't wait to hear more about all of your journeys. Best of luck!!

~Amanda

Welcome to TFA Gettysburg!

We're a group of Gettysburg College graduates serious about education the next generation of United States citizens. We've all signed on to Teach for America for two years. We all have had the common experience of going to Gettysburg College and gracing the beautiful campus we've come to know the past 4 years. Now we embark across the country.

• Dave has been placed in the D.C. Region corps. He will be teaching secondary biology in Prince George's County.
• Amanda has been placed in the Louisiana region corps and will be teaching special education.
• Haley has been placed in Houston region corps and will be teaching secondary mathematics.
• Ambika has been placed in the New York City region corps and will be teaching English as a Second Language.

Over the next two years, we hope to share some of our common experiences as teachers in the front lines across the country. We hope to add more authors as future graduates of Gettysburg College join the corps. We encourage Gettysburg Alums, friends, family, and more to support us through this interesting path we have before us. We hope you'll join us for the ride.

Over the next months, we'll try and blog about our institute. We all are attending different training institutes and we'll certainly have different reflections. At this point, I don't think any of us have been placed - you'll likely here about how that goes. Then we'll have our classrooms--first day will be frightening. We'll try to paint a realistic picture--with the good, the bad, and the ugly--of what it's like to transition into teaching.

A note - The thoughts and opinions expressed on this webpage do not reflect those of the U.S. government, Americorps, Teach for America, or the districts we've been placed in.