��ɫ��Ƶ

Today ��ɫ��Ƶ New Orleans celebrates Future Teachers of America Day! Every year, 20% of our AmeriCorps members become teachers in New Orleans after their year of service. As part of the celebration, we are proud to tell you a little about being a future teacher at ��ɫ��Ƶ and introduce you to a few future teachers and a current ��ɫ��Ƶ alumna teachers.

WHY ARE AMERICORPS MEMBER GREAT FUTURE TEACHERS?

��ɫ��Ƶ AmeriCorps members are highly trained and deeply motivated to support students. Through their ��ɫ��Ƶ service, they gain exposure to the unique challenges of high-need schools, acquire skills to meet student needs, and work closely with teachers on classroom management and lesson planning. After a year of full-time service in the classroom as a tutor and mentor, ��ɫ��Ƶ AmeriCorps members are more informed on what being a teacher in New Orleans entails, more prepared to be a successful first year teacher, and more likely to persist in the field.

Meghan Connors, a kindergarten teacher and 2015 ��ɫ��Ƶ alumna says, “��ɫ��Ƶ took my post-college plans and turned them upside down in the best way possible. ��ɫ��Ƶ gave me the opportunity to spend a year in a kindergarten classroom, where I learned from an experienced teacher and gained knowledge of the content and curriculum. Seven years into teaching kindergarten and I am continually grateful to ��ɫ��Ƶ for illuminating a passion and a profession I may not have otherwise discovered.”

THIS YEAR’S FUTURE TEACHERS

Nicolette – or as she goes by in front of students Ms. Rogers – currently serves in a 2nd grade classroom and wants to be an elementary teacher in the future.

Ananya is an AmeriCorps member in the 2020-21 corps and a future teacher. She shared this about her future teaching plans, “Before ��ɫ��Ƶ I was planning to go to law school and work in juvenile criminal defense because of the impact I could have on the lives of kids. But since joining ��ɫ��Ƶ New Orleans, I’ve realized that I can have an even greater impact as a teacher.”

REPRESENTING OUR ALUMNI TEACHERS

This is Tabitha’s second year celebrating Future Teachers of America Day! Last year, as a member of the ��ɫ��Ƶ New Orleans corps, Tabitha was planning to be a teacher. Now, Tabitha is teaching 7^th and 8^th graders at Mildred Osborne Charter School – the same school she served in as an AmeriCorps member.