Corps Member Profiles
Trenisha Goslee, 2014
Date: 1/6/2015
Hometown: Staunton, Virginia
College/Degree: Old Dominion University / Technology Education
Parish: Concordia
School: Ferriday Junior High School
Grade(s): 7th Grade
Subject(s): Math
Other School/Community Roles: Assistant Basketball Coach
Why I’m Here: I am here to connect my life experiences with my students to show them that they can overcome any adversity to become strong and achieve all of their dreams. I know through building their confidence with education anything can be obtainable.
Favorite Thing About Teaching: My favorite thing is to watch my students making transformational change throughout the year. Some students walked in my class hating math and completely hopeless before he/she even began the first lesson. Those same students are excited to tell me about EVERYTHING they have accomplished and I always match it with praise.
Best Teaching Tip: My best teaching tip is to get immersed in the school community as quick as possible. Just by becoming the assistant basketball coach I was able to build great relationships with students, faculty, staff, parents, and community members. It’s great to have so many resources to look up to. Also, another tip would be to not expect yourself to have absolutely every detail together, something will mess up a plan and you have to be quick to shake back.
Favorite Thing About the Louisiana Delta: My favorite thing about the Louisiana Delta are the people. Some of the most pleasant people I have met are right here in Louisiana. Having kind and caring people there for you makes any transition easier.
Words of Wisdom: “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Date: 1/6/2015
Hometown: Staunton, Virginia
College/Degree: Old Dominion University / Technology Education
Parish: Concordia
School: Ferriday Junior High School
Grade(s): 7th Grade
Subject(s): Math
Other School/Community Roles: Assistant Basketball Coach
Why I’m Here: I am here to connect my life experiences with my students to show them that they can overcome any adversity to become strong and achieve all of their dreams. I know through building their confidence with education anything can be obtainable.
Favorite Thing About Teaching: My favorite thing is to watch my students making transformational change throughout the year. Some students walked in my class hating math and completely hopeless before he/she even began the first lesson. Those same students are excited to tell me about EVERYTHING they have accomplished and I always match it with praise.
Best Teaching Tip: My best teaching tip is to get immersed in the school community as quick as possible. Just by becoming the assistant basketball coach I was able to build great relationships with students, faculty, staff, parents, and community members. It’s great to have so many resources to look up to. Also, another tip would be to not expect yourself to have absolutely every detail together, something will mess up a plan and you have to be quick to shake back.
Favorite Thing About the Louisiana Delta: My favorite thing about the Louisiana Delta are the people. Some of the most pleasant people I have met are right here in Louisiana. Having kind and caring people there for you makes any transition easier.
Words of Wisdom: “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Jean Marie Hill, 2013
Date: 12/2014
Hometown: Norman, OK
College/Degree: Southern Nazarene University/Bachelor of Arts in Urban Ministry and English; Louisiana College/Master of Arts in Teaching
Parish: Tensas
School: Newellton Elementary
Grade(s): 5th
Subject(s): all
Other School/Community Roles: 4H leader, Newellton Elementary; Corps and Community Culture and Matriculation and Onboarding Leader, Teach for America-Louisiana Delta, community organizer
Why I’m Here: I live and share life in the Louisiana Delta to be able to have the privilege to work with neighbors and friends to embrace and respond to the opportunities and challenges in our communities in the most sustainable way possible. I enjoy the opportunity to learn so much from individuals and communities who whom I have shared so little of life's journey with.
Favorite Thing About Teaching: Learning something new from everyone I encounter daily
Best Teaching Tip: This quote best reflects my best teaching tip: “Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”-Mother Teresa
Favorite Thing About the Louisiana Delta: I have the opportunity to partner with neighbors to help facilitate small changes that transform communities daily. I also enjoy the opportunity to live history and transform the trajectory of the present that will shape the future.
Date: 12/2014
Hometown: Norman, OK
College/Degree: Southern Nazarene University/Bachelor of Arts in Urban Ministry and English; Louisiana College/Master of Arts in Teaching
Parish: Tensas
School: Newellton Elementary
Grade(s): 5th
Subject(s): all
Other School/Community Roles: 4H leader, Newellton Elementary; Corps and Community Culture and Matriculation and Onboarding Leader, Teach for America-Louisiana Delta, community organizer
Why I’m Here: I live and share life in the Louisiana Delta to be able to have the privilege to work with neighbors and friends to embrace and respond to the opportunities and challenges in our communities in the most sustainable way possible. I enjoy the opportunity to learn so much from individuals and communities who whom I have shared so little of life's journey with.
Favorite Thing About Teaching: Learning something new from everyone I encounter daily
Best Teaching Tip: This quote best reflects my best teaching tip: “Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”-Mother Teresa
Favorite Thing About the Louisiana Delta: I have the opportunity to partner with neighbors to help facilitate small changes that transform communities daily. I also enjoy the opportunity to live history and transform the trajectory of the present that will shape the future.
Kathryn Burke, 2013
Date: July 3, 2014
Hometown: Naples, Florida
College/Degree: B.A. Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia
Parish: Madison
School: Wright Elementary
Grade(s)/Subject(s): 5th / Reading and Social Studies
Other School/Community Roles: Runs the ‘Diva Book Club’ after-school at Wright; Upper Elementary Content Leader; Corps and Community Culture Leader
Why I’m Here: I am a teacher in Madison Parish because I believe in the potential of our kids. Just because our town is small and we don’t necessarily have the resources a place like New Orleans does, doesn’t mean our students don’t deserve an excellent education. Being a part of rural education is so important, especially when society has historically focused on improving urban school systems. I want foster growth in our students and help the kids in the Delta recognize their own potential. I want the Louisiana Delta to be a proof point for just how much can be accomplished in rural regions.
Favorite Thing about Teaching: The relationships that you can make with your students are by far my favorite thing about being in the classroom. Even though I wasn’t self-contained, I took the time to eat with them at lunch and let them come to my classroom afterschool (two easy ways to get to know your kids outside of the classroom setting). When there are days that you are struggling in the classroom, seeing one of your kids smile reminds you why you come to school every day.
Best Teaching Tip: Be consistent!! I struggle with this so much but if your students know what you expect of them and you hold them to those expectations every day, your classroom will transform.
Favorite Thing about the Louisiana Delta: For me, it always comes back to relationships. We live in small towns and that makes it so much easier, in some ways, to become a part of the community. You see parents and kids at the grocery store, parades and festivals. Always take those opportunities to build relationships with parents and community members – they are your biggest allies; we all want our kids to succeed!
Date: July 3, 2014
Hometown: Naples, Florida
College/Degree: B.A. Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia
Parish: Madison
School: Wright Elementary
Grade(s)/Subject(s): 5th / Reading and Social Studies
Other School/Community Roles: Runs the ‘Diva Book Club’ after-school at Wright; Upper Elementary Content Leader; Corps and Community Culture Leader
Why I’m Here: I am a teacher in Madison Parish because I believe in the potential of our kids. Just because our town is small and we don’t necessarily have the resources a place like New Orleans does, doesn’t mean our students don’t deserve an excellent education. Being a part of rural education is so important, especially when society has historically focused on improving urban school systems. I want foster growth in our students and help the kids in the Delta recognize their own potential. I want the Louisiana Delta to be a proof point for just how much can be accomplished in rural regions.
Favorite Thing about Teaching: The relationships that you can make with your students are by far my favorite thing about being in the classroom. Even though I wasn’t self-contained, I took the time to eat with them at lunch and let them come to my classroom afterschool (two easy ways to get to know your kids outside of the classroom setting). When there are days that you are struggling in the classroom, seeing one of your kids smile reminds you why you come to school every day.
Best Teaching Tip: Be consistent!! I struggle with this so much but if your students know what you expect of them and you hold them to those expectations every day, your classroom will transform.
Favorite Thing about the Louisiana Delta: For me, it always comes back to relationships. We live in small towns and that makes it so much easier, in some ways, to become a part of the community. You see parents and kids at the grocery store, parades and festivals. Always take those opportunities to build relationships with parents and community members – they are your biggest allies; we all want our kids to succeed!