Collection:LPB

Genre: News, Public Affairs

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2011-12-16

Duration: 00:06:44

Subjects: Education | Teach for America (Project)

Contributors:

• Whinham, Charlie Host
• Sanford, Shauna Host
• Lincoln, Sue Producer
• Fortenberry, Rex Q. Editor
• Tipton, Michael Interviewee
• Heilig, Julian Vasquez Interviewee
• Joseph, Kelli Interviewee

This segment from the December 16, 2011, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features the first part of Sue Lincoln’s report on Teach for America in Louisiana, a program where recent college graduates agree to teach for two years in struggling school districts. She interviews Michael Tipton, the executive director of Teach for American in south Louisiana, who discusses the mission of the organization and their work in closing the achievement gap for students in struggling schools. Lincoln also interviews Julian Vasquez Heiling, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, who discusses the findings of his 2010 study for the National Education Policy Center called “Teach for America: A False Promise.” Lastly, Lincoln interviews Dr. Kelli Joseph, the superintendent of the St. Helena Parish School System, who discusses the school district’s inability to hire more Teach for America corps members due to their lack of funding to pay the required finder’s fees. Hosts: Charlie Whinham and Shauna Sanford