What have you been doing since MTC?

After MTC, my husband and I, along with our toddler, moved to Japan where we taught conversational English and explored the Kansai countryside. Last year I taught 7th and 8th grade English at H. W. Byers (formerly Sand Flat) in Marshall County, in northeast Mississippi.  This fall I have embarked upon a new adventure in education as a full-time graduate student in curriculum and instruction, now teaching undergraduates rather than middle schoolers.

What was the greatest reward of being a part of the Mississippi Teacher Corps?

For me the greatest reward has been all the amazing people encountered along the way – my MTC classmates, my students, their families, fellow teachers and staff, MTC program leaders and instructors. I also feel privileged, through working with Teacher Corps in various ways, to have gotten to know many of the participants who have come through the program after me. MTC attracts incredible people from all over the country, many of whom have inspired me.

What was the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge was simply acclimating to the demands of teaching and figuring out how to live a balanced life. The first year was fairly overwhelming. After that, the biggest challenge was dealing with the fact that sometimes no matter how hard you work, you may still feel unsuccessful. I did my best and remembered that teachers sometimes reach students in unexpected ways and at unexpected times.

How has MTC impacted your life?

Through MTC I met my wonderful husband (Joe Sweeney MTC Class of 2006) and a several lifelong friends. Teacher Corps has provided me with a number of leadership opportunities that have led me to where I am today, for which I am really grateful.

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.