Blackburn Institute

Blackburn Fellows to Serve as Teach For America Volunteers

May 7, 2010

Most people could describe their “dream trip” to any city in America. Few people, though, would actually live and teach in an unfamiliar city, dealing with the problems of underprivileged students. However, that is exactly how Blackburn Fellows Elizabeth Jones (2008-2009), Alex Flachsbart (2007-2008), Caitlin Looney (2008-2009), and Wilson Boardman (2009-2010) are going to spend an entire year doing, following their graduation from the University in May of 2010.

Like an increasing number of UA students, they will be working for Teach for America (TFA). Founded at Princeton in 1990, TFA has grown exponentially since then; it now serves 25 urban and rural regions and has approximately 4,400 corps members. The Blackburn Institute is certainly proud to send four of its finest newly minted Fellows into its ranks!

2007-2008 Fellow Alex Flachsbart is excited about his new job in the Blackbelt region of Alabama.  He says that Blackburn was integral to both his decision to apply for Teach for America and to list Alabama as his most preferred TFA region.  It was through Travel experiences sponsored by Blackburn that allowed Alex “to see first-hand the kind of difference that an investment in service can make in the quality of life of a place like Mount Vernon or Camden.”

Alex went on to say, “I feel as if I have gotten to know this state and its people better in the past five years than I ever knew my home state of California. It’s because of Blackburn that I consider Alabama to be my new home, and it’s because of Blackburn that I’m planning to stay.”

Like Alex, 2008-2009 Fellow Caitlin Looney is looking forward to her new job in New Orleans. She says that, “the Blackburn Institute has taught me about the importance of individual responsibility and answering a call to action to be engaged and strive to improve my community. I hope that by joining Teach for America, I will become an agent of change.”

2008-2009 Fellow Elizabeth Jones will also be serving in the Blackbelt region of Alabama and 2009-2010 Fellow Wilson Boardman will be teaching English as a second language in Colorado.

Blackburn_TFA_Article.docx

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