After devoting their skills and energy to help struggling communities overseas, some former Peace Corps volunteers will be returning to the United States to work in another challenging environment: New Orleans public schools



After devoting their skills and energy to help struggling communities overseas, some former Peace Corps volunteers will be returning to the United States to work in another challenging environment: New Orleans public schools

The biggest challenge

Aug 1, 2004

New Orleans Magazine

by Ian Mcnulty

NEWS BEAT

After devoting their skills and energy to help struggling communities overseas, some former Peace Corps volunteers will be returning to the United States to work in another challenging environment: New Orleans public schools.

Xavier University formed a partnership this year with the national volunteer agency's Fellows/USA program, which will bring returned Peace Corps members to New Orleans to continue careers in education.

During two-year service commitments, Peace Corps volunteers work in foreign countries in collaboration with local community members in areas including education, youth outreach, community development and information technology. The agency says these experiences make its volunteers well prepared for the challenges of working in resource-strapped schools and communities back home.

At Xavier, returned Peace Corps volunteers interested in teaching math, science or special education can apply for a "fast track" teacher certification program beginning in the summer or a master of arts in teaching program, which begins in the fall. Through the partnership, Xavier provides full tuition assistance, mentoring and other benefits, such as training stipends and signing bonuses. At the same time, the Peace Corps fellows will teach in local public schools, staffing hard-to-fill positions.

In addition to bringing new energy to the public school classrooms where the fellows will teach, the program will help bring more diversity to Xavier's own campus, says Rosalind Hale, chairwoman of the university's education department. "They will enhance our own classes with their perspective and experience," says Hale.

Xavier is the first historically black college among the 30 institutions participating in the Fellows/USA program nationally. The Peace Corps says it is trying to raise its profile among minority college students, especially blacks, who now comprise 3 percent of its volunteers. -I.M.

Copyright New Orleans Publishing Group Inc. Aug 2004

When this story was prepared, here was the front page of PCOL magazine:

This Month's Issue: August 2004 Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and who can come up with the funniest caption for our Current Events Funny? Exclusive: Director Vasquez speaks out in an op-ed published exclusively on the web by Peace Corps Online saying the Dayton Daily News' portrayal of Peace Corps "doesn't jibe with facts." In other news, the NPCA makes the case for improving governance and explains the challenges facing the organization, RPCV Bob Shaconis says Peace Corps has been a "sacred cow", RPCV Shaun McNally picks up support for his Aug 10 primary and has a plan to win in Connecticut, and the movie "Open Water" based on the negligent deaths of two RPCVs in Australia opens August 6. Op-ed's by RPCVs: Cops of the World is not a good goal and Peace Corps must emphasize community development.

Read the stories and leave your comments.