By JESSICA DAIGLE

Staff Reporter

RESERVE – Teach for America, the Greater New Orleans Chapter, hosted an appreciation dinner Tuesday to celebrate the partnership between the organization and St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools.

The event, which was held at East St. John High, included dinner and a reception, and also a program which showcased selected local students talents and personal memories of the honored teachers.

In attendance were the 15 current Teach for America corps members and the nine alumni presently teaching in eight St. John area schools.

Alumni corps members shared personal stories of their time teaching in St. John Parish and students from John L. Ory Magnet, LaPlace Elementary and Glade School performed or reflected on their experience with the organization.

Teach for America is a national corps of college graduates from all majors who commit to two years of teaching in low-income urban and rural communities.

Teach for America’s mission is to close academic achievement gaps between children growing up in low-income areas and children in affluent areas.

Since its creation in 1990, approximately 12,000 graduates have participated in the Teach for America program.