Public policy student finds success with Teach for America
10:10 a.m., Jan. 15, 2014--Public policy, one of the undergraduate majors available in the University of Delawares School of Public Policy and Administration
(SPPA), attracts students with a wide range of public service,
non-profit, and political interests. Many of the students in the program
have strong backgrounds in volunteer work and aspire to work
professionally in roles that will benefit society in any number of
organizations.
One public policy senior, Kelsey Schultz, recently was notified that
her goal of working for Teach for America is becoming a reality after
she graduates in May. Schultz was assigned a first-year Teach for
America position at an elementary school in inner city Baltimore.
Schultz grew up in the Baltimore area, and has had an interest in
studying and rectifying cases of educational inequality since high
school. She founded and led a partnership between her high school class
and a local elementary school, through which she and her classmates were
able to tutor inner city school children.
Schultz said she realized that educational inequality issues are too
profound for her to ignore, and has since felt passionately about
working for organizations that promote educational and social justice.
At UD, Schultz transferred into the School of Public Policy and
Administration she matriculated originally as a university studies
student after taking a Citizens, Community, and Change course offered
by SPPA. I feel that the work we do in our SPPA classes is important,
and I know that Im building skills that will be applicable throughout
my career, said Schultz.
In another public service effort, Schultz has helped to develop a
program at UD through which Blue Hen Ambassadors are able to volunteer
their time to help graduating high school students complete their
college applications.
This program was supported by a Teach for America Rising Leaders
Fellowship, which Schultz received in 2011, and dovetails with the Institute for Public Administrations Delaware College Access project.
The prior summer, Schultz did strategic planning for the KIPP
Baltimore charter schools, which serve low-income students, in a public
service project as a UD Summer Scholar.
A Teach for America placement is noteworthy for any soon-to-be
college graduate, and is particularly exciting for a student with such a
passion for educational equality.
Speaking of her professional aspirations, Schultz said, I hope to
have the greatest impact that I can throughout my career right now, I
know thats in a classroom, working directly with students. Someday I
may work in school administration or in an organization advocating for
educational equality, but I know that my work will be rooted in my
education and in my experience teaching. I feel so well-prepared, and
could not be more excited for this opportunity.
Originally published by UDaily
