Member Spotlight: Lauren Carey, Teach for America Alabama AmeriCorps Program

Meet Lauren Carey, an Elementary Teacher at Carrie A. Tuggle Elementary School, a service site of the Teach for America Alabama AmeriCorps program.

1. What motivated you to join AmeriCorps?

I joined the program because the AmeriCorps mission aligns with my values and career goals. I spent years leading up to college helping students with negatively impacted mindsets by the educational opportunity gap. Throughout college, each career path I chose revolved around advocating for those students. Through various experiences, it became clear that my chance to impact was in the physical classroom directly with students. Teach for America gave me the opportunity and tools to put my goal into action.

2. What would you like to get out of this service opportunity?

Starting my teaching career virtually held a unique set of challenges. Still, it makes a personal goal of fostering relationships and community with my students and their families incredibly attainable. I got to know my students’ families because I rely so much on communication with them while their child learns from home. I have gained beneficial insight from the experts on my students and their families. My goal this year is to continue building on those relationships with my students and their families.

3. What will your service focus on for the 2021-2022 program year?

My goal for my classroom is that every student has access to resources and opportunities to help them achieve at high levels. Academically speaking, I want to implement differentiated teaching styles that appeal to all of my learners and hold productive small group time that enhances and elaborates on the content we are learning. Emotionally speaking, I want students to feel supported in achieving their goals, included and represented in their classroom, and confident in sharing their voices and ideas.

4. What are your plans after AmeriCorps?

I am currently pursuing my Master's in Elementary Education. I committed to serve two years with the Teach for America program, but I do not see my time in education after the program. If I ever leave the classroom, I plan to pursue a career in administration or advocate for students as an education policy analyst.

Thank you for your service Lauren!