Women Who Inspire Us

   By drodriguez  Feb 20, 2007
73

Not many 21 year olds can claim to have gathered 2.5 million dollars to fund an idea that they could just not let go. Talk about inspiring! In her senior year at Princeton University, Wendy Kopp proposed the idea for Teach for America in her undergraduate thesis. She was sure that many of her peers were seeking to do something meaningful in their lives instead of rushing to a 6 figure job. Turns out, she was right.

A year later, in 1990, Kopp initiated Teach For America. That year, she started the program with 500 men and women who began teaching in needy communities. Fast forward to 15 years later and you will find that Teach For America has substantially grown. This organization now boasts 3,500 current members, in addition to, the more than 10,000 alumni.

Kopp shares her story in her book, One Day, All Children, part memoir, part guide book. Read it and perhaps you too will be inspired to follow your dreams.


Do you think our country's children are getting a better education now than they were 10 years ago?

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TRUPP22 by TRUPP22 | HAYS, KS
Feb 25, 2021

TEACHERS DESERVE TO MAKE THE BIG BUCKS, NOT PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES. SPORTS ARE OVERATED!!

NoodleD by NoodleD | ROSEVILLE, MN
Feb 21, 2021

I feel there is a lack of good education for all of the diversity that we have in our country

susan1199 by susan1199 | SANDUSKY, MI
Jan 30, 2021

I think that some of our country's children are getting a better education now than they were 10 years ago. Programs like Wendy Kopp's have helped tremendously in this area. Technology has also helped a great deal in this area. However, there are children that are suffering right now because of the dysfunction in their home and have been doing online learning. Many children have been really struggling with this. I hope our pandemic environment improves in 2021 for all of us, but especially for our children.

Dragonfish2 by Dragonfish2 | WEST PALM BCH, FL
Jan 11, 2021

Today we have one of the highest dropout rates amongst highschool students and the ones that make it to college; a bit less than half actually finish and graduate. A lot has opened the door for change with all the advances in technology; creating a different learning experience, but unfortunately minority and low-income students are still less likely to have effective teachers than their peers.

Rpeeples by Rpeeples | KINGSLAND, GA
Jan 08, 2021

I do not feel like they are getting a better education today. In my county they seem to be teaching to take a test instead of teaching so the kids learn something.

Balyssa033 by Balyssa033 | MILTON, PA
Jan 04, 2021

Absolutely, as the world evolves as does education to things. Things that are relevant now were unknown 10 years ago. The world evolves as should we.

Kairaro by Kairaro | Hollywood , FL
Dec 29, 2020

Do you think people would stop living in the future?

Kairaro by Kairaro | Hollywood , FL
Dec 29, 2020

Do you think people would stop living in the future?

Neveragain by Neveragain | OAK PARK, IL
Dec 28, 2020

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nicolelc by nicolelc | MCKEE, KY
Dec 17, 2020

Would love to win this Thanks for the chance

nicolelc by nicolelc | MCKEE, KY
Dec 17, 2020

Would love to win this Thanks for the chance

allykow by allykow | Oreland, PA
Dec 16, 2020

Having grown up in an era of technology, I can certainly say that my quality of education is higher than what it could have been ten years ago, before most schools had access to laptops and iPads for students; these products help effeciently and effectively teach kids and provide access to online resources that were once limited to a much more select few. 

InfluencerMrsNita202 by InfluencerMrsNita202 | Charlotte, NC
Dec 02, 2020

Yes, I do believe that they are, due to so much new technology worldwide that was not so-available to the earlier generations. 

BethyA79 by BethyA79 | Huntington, WV
Nov 30, 2020

I believe children get a better education now because of all the advances in technology. 

superconductor by superconductor | JACKSONVILLE, NC
Nov 26, 2020

I believe there are more opportunities for our children to receive better education; however, educators have the power to give them a better or worse one. Children are like sponges; history shows us that they will not listen/follow our guidance if we aren't living by the guidance we're trying to give them.