Denver, CO – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, former superintendent of Denver Public Schools, today led the 6th grade math class of a Teach for America corps member at Florida Pitt Waller K-8 School in Denver.
“There is no harder job than being a teacher in a high-need school. This week people from outside the teaching profession will get a taste of how hard – but also how rewarding – teaching can be,” said Bennet. “Teach for America has played an important role in recruiting talented young college graduates to the classroom, especially in the high-need schools where they’re needed most. If we are going to ensure every kid in this country has access to a quality education, we have to transform our approach to recruiting, training and retaining talented teachers, especially in high-need schools.”
Bennet has led the effort in the U.S. Senate to transform the country’s approach to hiring and retaining talented teachers in America’s classrooms. He recently offered a proposal – the Presidential Teacher Corps – aimed at attracting a new generation of talented young leaders to America’s classrooms. Key elements of that proposal were included in President Obama’s proposed budget for FY 2011.