One day…

Like everyone, I have a wish list. One of the things I wish for is for everyone in Louisiana to learn about a magnificent organization named Teach For America (TFA). The organization’s founder, Wendy Kopp, had a big idea. She wanted to increase educational achievement for underprivileged students by ensuring that highly competent, well-trained and extremely motivated teachers are there for the students who need them most. Kopp’s philosophy is as simple as it is powerful: “One day, all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education.”

Once established, Teach For America began recruiting high-profile college graduates from some of America’s best universities. One might think that would be a difficult task. The targets of the recruitment were young men and women who were the top graduates in their fields who could demand top-dollar from corporate America. Almost from the beginning, however, TFA-in spite of rigorous qualification guidelines-has had more applicants for the program than it has positions to fill. That speaks well not only of the organization, but also of the willingness of today’s best and brightest college graduates to sacrifice to help those in need.

When classes started this school year, Teach For America placed 5,000 corps members in classrooms. From maintaining a presence in a few eastern seaboard schools at its inception, the organization is now operating in 20 states and the District of Columbia. TFA has been operating in New Orleans and South Louisiana for several years.

Corps members have made significant inroads in raising their students’ achievement levels. Many principals go all out to recruit these highly motivated individuals, because they have seen tangible results coming from these teachers.

Unfortunately, it takes about $10,000 just to recruit and train a TFA teacher. These young men and women make a two-year commitment to the program when they sign up. Though some teach longer, the recruitment and training process is very expensive due to the constant influx and out-flow of the teaching corps. Louisiana doesn’t even come close to raising its share of the training money for the 300 plus TFA corps members currently serving in our schools. To significantly increase the number of these highly successful teachers entering the Bayou State, more dollars are needed. Local participating school districts put up a small but significant amount of dollars to help with the recruitment and training. The State of Louisiana puts up less than $300,000 into a program that has proven it can deliver top-notch teachers into the classrooms that need them most. Almost $4 billion in new money was added to the state budget during the last legislative session, but state funding for TFA was not increased one dime. That is unfortunate and should be changed as soon as possible to take advantage of this tremendous opportunity.

Most of the funding for Teach For America-in Louisiana and across the nation-comes from individuals and businesses who realize the magic and power this organization has when it comes to making a difference in schools where a difference desperately needs to be made.

I have been in classrooms with Teach For America teachers and have seen their results first hand. I have met many of these outstanding young men and women and continue to be amazed by their willingness to forego big salaries coming out of college to help students have a future. Needless to say, I am a big fan and a committed supporter of

Teach For America. You can be, too. To learn more about TFA and how you can help in making its presence stronger in Louisiana, go to www.teachforamerica.org.