The University of Chicago is ranked among the top 20 schools in the number of graduating seniors and graduate students who have joined Teach For America’s 2011 teaching corps, the national non-profit organization announced.
“I’m thrilled that the University of Chicago has once again been ranked as one of the top contributors to Teach For America,” said Meredith Daw, Associate Dean of Students in the University and Director of Career Advising & Planning Services. “Teach for America provides an opportunity for many of our students to develop their leadership skills, and to continue their career paths after leaving the College.“
Teach For America corps members commit to teach for two years in underserved schools and become lifelong leaders in the pursuit of educational equity. Admission to Teach For America this year was more selective than in previous years, with a record 48,000 individuals applying to join and an 11 percent acceptance rate.
The University of Chicago ranks 17th in Teach For America students among schools with fewer than 10,000 undergraduates. In all, 24 students from the University joined the 2011 teaching corps. More than 240 UChicago alumni have taught through the program in Teach For America's 20-year history.
Nationwide, some 9,300 first and second-year corps members will reach 600,000 students in 43 regions across 34 states and the District of Columbia, including new sites in the Appalachia region of Kentucky, Oklahoma City, Seattle, and the Pee Dee region of South Carolina, according to officials of the education organization.
Beyond their corps commitments, two-thirds of Teach For America alumni continue in the field of education, including 6,000 who work as K-12 classroom teachers. More than 550 Teach For America alumni work as school principals or school system leaders, and more than 50 serve in elected office.
—Prof. Kunle Odunsi
