Teach For America at UGA

Why I Chose Teach For America: Madison Staab

1. Name, Hometown, Major, Campus Involvement

Madison Staab, Grapevine, Texas, Advertising Major & New Media Certificate, UGA Relay For Life Marketing Director, Alpha Chi Omega, Grady College Ambassador

2. Teach For America Placement Region, Age Group and Subject: Dallas/Fort Worth

Corps 11, Pre-K through 6th, General Ed.

3. Why Teach For America? What attracted you to the program?

To be honest, Teach For America was not something I knew very much about until Spring of my junior year, but after just one meeting with a TFA recruiter, I could not get this cause out of my mind. Learning more about the issue at hand and the discrepancy in our education system were enough to win me over. The passion, enthusiasm and confidence in this program as expressed by everyone involved from current members to alumni was contagious. After all, it takes each one of these individuals to make this program a success and I knew that I had to be a part of it.

4. What excites you the most about being part of the Teach For America program?

The kids. It’s as simple as that. Visiting several Atlanta schools this past week only made that ever more clear. From a distance, their education looks just like mine did—Friday fire drills and lunch room chatter overshadowed by tests and Friday night football games. All of that may be true, but do they have the teachers pouring into them? Do they have people that are willing to work with them individually to ensure success? Are they excited to learn? I only hope that I can do my part to impact their education in this way. 

5. How do you think your campus involvement or other personal experiences will help you over the next two years?

There is no question that each of my leadership and campus involvement experiences has ensured my success not only as a soon-to-be teacher, but as a person. They have given me the tools to ensure success—through developing self-discipline, raising my standards of responsibility and channeling my interests into something greater. Leadership roles have been the key to my success, but also my college experience! My fondest memories have easily come from each of these experiences and years from now, I will remember UGA fondly, very much because of these positions.

6. What is your plan for after Teach For America?

Following Teach For America, I hope to find a way to combine my interests in marketing and advertising with those of service, education reform and non-profits. Wherever these opportunities lead me, I know that there is a need to explore and further promote causes of this nature and I hope to pursue a career in this regard.

Why I Chose Teach For America: Josh Delaney

Metro Atlanta; K-12 Special Education

I have always had a passion for education. I see what education can do for people in our country. It made all the difference for me. A strong education can be the defining factor between success and poverty. I wanted to do my part to make a great education accessible to all children for two years. I love that the program makes a good education “the rule, not the exception.”

I am excited to meet the kids. I am excited to start my day with “Good Morning class” and become apart of these children’s lives. The relationships excite me the most!

I think the leadership and service skills I have learned on campus will be perfect for the classroom setting. Student organizations can be great at teaching patience, organization, and presentation skills that are needed in the classroom. Plus being student body President at a school like UGA has taught me incredible time and task management skills.

I plan to go back to graduate school for a master’s degree in Marketing or Marketing Communications

Why I Chose Teach For America: Beth Pollack

1. Name, Hometown, Major, Campus Involvement:

Beth Pollak; Statesboro; Magazines and Biology; Honors Teaching Assistant/Fellow, CURO Apprentice, Oasis Catolico volunteer, JURO editor, UGA Press editorial intern

2. Teach For America Placement Region, Age Group and Subject:

Mississippi Delta, Grades 7-12, Chemistry

3. Why Teach For America? What attracted you to the program?

I’ve always had teaching at the back of my mind, and this seemed to be a great way to get my feet wet while making a big difference in a rural school (which I am very passionate about).

4. What excites you the most about being part of the Teach For America program?

Being able to “pay it forward” — I’ve been blessed with amazing parents and teachers who helped ensure my success, and I want to pass on to my students the joy of learning that these influential people gave me.

5. How do you think your campus involvement or other personal experiences will help you over the next two years?

I’ve worked as both an Honors Teaching Assistant, where I  taught by myself, and as an Honors Teaching Fellow, where I helped coordinate other HTAs. Managing a classroom as well as directing other teachers — along with the teaching instruction I got from some amazing education professors — will hopefully come in handy in the fall.

6. What is your plan for after Teach For America?

I’d love to get my masters in public health and then work either in the public health field or as an editor, preferably at a health/medical magazine.

Why I Chose Teach For America: Justin Mann

1. Name, Hometown, Major, Campus Involvement:

       Justin Mann, Fayetteville, GA, Marketing, Executive Director- UGA Relay For Life

2. Teach For America Placement Region, Age Group and Subject:

      Atlanta, GA, K-12 Special Education

3. Why Teach For America? What attracted you to the program?

     What Teach For America represents is something larger than most know. Equality in education is not just a commodity, it is a fundamental right. Every student should have the right to achieve a world-class education. I want to be a part of the movement that will make this happen in our lifetime!

4. What excites you the most about being part of the Teach For America program?

     What excites me the most, is that in two years I will have impacted a group of students. I will have impacted students who need it the most. My goal would be to give my students the desire and motivation to be successful, graduate high school, and then go on to college. The impact in the classroom can change someone’s life forever.

5. How do you think your campus involvement or other personal experiences will help you over the next two years?

     Being a student leader, I feel better equipped to lead my students to success. I am prepared for the amount of endless work that will be required in order to make a positive impact in the classroom.

6. What is your plan for after Teach For America?

     After Teach For America I hope to start my career in a job that blends my passion for non-profits and knowledge of marketing and technology.