From left, Julie Mark, David Jose, and Natalie Scheidt of the Class of 2007.

David Jose of Warwick, R.I., Julie Mark of Goshen, Conn., and Natalie Scheidt of Rocky Point, N.Y., have been selected to work with Teach for America (TFA), a national corps of educators that reaches out to low-income public schools in 25 urban and rural communities across the country.

“In their two years’ service, corps members work relentlessly to close the achievement gap that plagues our country’s low-income schools,” said Joshua Biber, TFA recruitment director. “They believe vehemently that all students deserve the opportunity to receive an excellent education, and that with hard work, perseverance, and the highest of expectations, all students can succeed.”

Jose, who is president of the National Leadership Council for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, will teach secondary English in Greater New Orleans. He majors in political science.

Mark, currently the executive secretary of PC’s Student Congress and a member of the Friars Club, will teach secondary science in Phoenix. She is a biology major.

Scheidt, who majors in both English and women’s studies, also will be heading to Phoenix, where she will teach middle school special education. At PC, Scheidt designed her own major in women’s studies [prior to the subject becoming a major] and is a member of the campus chapter of Women Will, which seeks to raise awareness about women’s issues.

“It is my conviction that in order to be a good leader, it is vital to have first-hand experience within the community one serves,” said Scheidt. “In addition, education is one of the most powerful tools for social change.”

“My greatest hope,” she said, “is that I will be able to act as an advocate for my students, who often face an added obstacle in not receiving the appropriate services, beyond the barriers imposed by educational inequality.”

Mark said she is taking part in TFA because education has been such an important part of her life. “All children in the United States should be able to receive an excellent, and equal, education no matter what their background is,” she remarked.

Jose credited his College education with influencing his decision to become involved in TFA. “Being a PC student has broadened my horizons and made me more socially conscious and more willing to commit myself fully to public and community service programs across the board,” he said.

TFA participants receive a regular salary with complete benefits as dictated by the public school district in which they teach. In addition, corps members receive the benefit of Americorps Educational stipends for each year of service and are able to defer payment on college loans, Biber said.