Syracuse places 20th for most graduates in Teach For America
Syracuse University ranked high on Teach For America’s ‘Top Contributors List’ this year, with 41 graduates placed in teaching jobs.
TFA, started in 1990 by Wendy Kopp, received a record 48,000 applications this year. But only 11 percent were accepted, according to a Washington Post article published Saturday. TFA is a nonprofit organization through AmeriCorps that places recent graduates in underserved rural and urban school districts for a two-year teaching commitment.
Many SU students were among that 11 percent, as SU placed 20th on the list of applicants accepted from ‘large universities,’ according to the article.
One of these applicants was 2011 graduate and Colorado Corps member Emily Allen. Allen graduated from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and attributes a lot of her motivation to apply for TFA to the policy studies program.
‘I thought it (TFA) was a fantastic idea. I am very impressed by Kopp. She’s a genius,’ said Bill Coplin, director of the public affairs program at Maxwell. ‘It’s competently run, which is not true for a lot of nonprofits.’
Approximately 70 percent of policy studies majors that apply for TFA are admitted, Coplin said. Almost 100 of his past students have been accepted to TFA.
However, it is not only policy studies majors that are accepted.
‘Since TFA began we’ve always had a strong interest from SU students, but there has been an increase recently,’ said Mike Cahill, director of career services.
Allen and Cahill both said that SU students share a passion to make a difference and become active citizens.
‘Kids at Syracuse are the caliber of people that TFA is looking for,’ Allen said. ‘Kids at Syracuse have potential to be leaders in society, and teachers are part of that.’
The high ranking can also be attributed to TFA’s presence on SU’s campus, as the organization has done a good job of branding itself, Cahill said.
TFA is the philanthropy of Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity and is supported yearlong by SU’s chapter. TFA representatives come to campus often; Kopp has come to Syracuse twice to speak to students.
‘They’re here in our office; they reach out to our faculty. That helps to spread the word,’ said Cahill, who expects to see a rise in the number of SU students working for TFA.
Allen said she believes that in addition to the policy studies program, SU has great resources, connections and an alumni base connected to TFA.
‘We could sit around and do nothing, but we have students that are incredibly driven,’ Allen said. ‘That’s what TFA is looking for.’
Published on September 18, 2011 at 12:00 pm
