Why did you join the Mississippi Teacher Corps?

After graduating from Rhodes College I worked for Youth Villiages, a residential treatment facility for troubled youth. At the same time my college sweetheart went to teach math in Hollandale, MS as a member of MTC. She refused to leave her students which left me with no choice but to move to Mississippi after we were married. I then worked for two years as a Branch Manager for a local bank in the Mississippi Delta. I missed working with kids so I made the decision to leave my position at the bank and enter the MTC.

What has been the biggest challenge?

When I was working at the bank I was able to take time with all of my customers to have a conversation and build relationships. You can't just sit around and shoot the breeze with the kids or their parents when they come in for a conference.

What has been the biggest reward?

A kid's face when they master the material.

 

The Mississippi Teacher Corps is the most competitive teaching program in the country. The two-year program, designed for non-education majors, recruits college graduates to teach in the Mississippi Delta and offers a host of benefits, including teacher training and certification, a full scholarship for a master's degree in education, job placement that includes full pay and benefits and, most importantly, the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students in one of the poorest areas of the country.