SPARK School Leader, Joanna Belcher in Georgetown University Article
By tdesimon on February 4th, 2010
Georgetown Teaches For America
Dane Petersen | January 17, 2010
“Joanna Belcher (C’03) taught fourth grade at O.S. Hubbard Elementary School in Alum Rock, a school district in East San Jose, Calif., during her time with Teach For America.
Her interest in teaching started at Georgetown, when she taught at an elementary school in southeast Washington during her first year. That led to her having the same group of children from second to fifth grade as part of the Heads Up/AmeriCorps program during her four years at the university. Her commitment didn’t waver after final exams.
“During the summers I lived in the neighborhood where my kids lived, which gave me the opportunity to get to know my students’ families,” she says. “… I still think of my students. My frustration and the demeaning and inequitable education they received at a school that stood within view of the Capitol building propelled me to join Teach For America and remains my motive.”
Belcher notes how her professors, including Porterfield, supported her throughout her Georgetown career.”