Two Georgia Southern Students Selected to Join Teach For America

May 11, 2015

Khrysta Robinson and Marissa McOmber both crossed the stage this weekend and officially became alumni of Georgia Southern University, and both are excited to begin a career this summer working with children. They’ve committed two years to Teach For America (TFA), an organization that recruits college graduates from around the country to teach in high-need classrooms while helping expand educational opportunities for children facing the challenges of poverty. [caption id="attachment_4710" align="alignleft" width="192"] Khrysta Robinson[/caption] Robinson, a public relations major from Stone Mountain, Georgia, is headed to San Antonio, Texas, to teach special education students. She aspires to go into social justice, and found that beginning her career with an organization like TFA would be a great place to start. “I know I want to go into social justice, and there are so many aspects of being in this teaching environment--from different perspectives, races, ethnicities and socioeconomic statuses--that will help me figure out the area I would like to pursue and the best way to make a difference,” said Robinson. Robinson spent a lot of time working with the Multicultural Student Center on campus and also was involved in the Black Student Alliance among other organizations. Participation in these groups, she said, have helped her hone skills she’ll be able to pass along to her students. “The things I have learned in and outside of classroom, especially with the Multicultural Student Center, and opening my mind to different perspective, are things I’ll be able to pass along to my students and help them think outside the box too,” she said. She hopes to also use the communications skills she learned while pursuing her public relations degree. “I’m a big believer in communications, so in the ways that I sculpt and mold messages to get an intended point across, those skills will guide me in teaching and the lessons that I give.” And despite not earning a degree in education, Robinson is still passionate about helping children, especially in the classroom. “I originally looked into TFA because of my passion for social justice,” said Robinson. “When doing my research, I resonated with the mission of providing a great education for children everywhere, regardless of race or socioeconomic status.” [caption id="attachment_4711" align="alignright" width="277"] Marissa McOmber[/caption] Like Robinson, McOmber didn’t earn a degree in education, either. The Suwanee, Georgia, native credits her involvement in organizations such as Model UN and experiences like serving as the Director General of the Southeastern United States Model United Nations (SUSMUN), a conference for high school students in the International Model United Nations Association, for inciting her passion for education. “Education has been a huge part of my life and I’ve always been really passionate about politics and have considered teaching at the college level in the future,” McOmber said. “However, SUSMUN and Model UN are learning focused, which made me really understand how much I care about education. TFA is open to college graduates of all majors, so I thought it was a really interesting fit. “Additionally, my term in Greensboro is two years and I could potentially use my political science background to become an advocate for education reform,” she added. Education reform is another reason McOmber decided to join TFA. “The interview process was actually really enjoyable, but also enlightened me to the serious need for educational reform in this country,” she said. “I have always thought I would work internationally, which I still may do in the future, but through learning about TFA I've become really passionate about ensuring that every student here in the U.S. has access to a quality education.” McOmber will teach English in the North Carolina Piedmont Triad Region (NCPT), or the Greensboro metropolitan area, and is ready to get in the classroom. “I'm so excited to meet my students. I want to be able to advocate for these students and be one more person who truly believes in their ability to succeed,” McOmber said. “I'm excited to be part of the Greensboro community and get to know the needs of the students and community I'm serving. I am also really excited to meet and learn from my fellow NCPT Corps Members this summer, who are equally as passionate and excited about educational equity as I am.” TFA was founded in 1990 and recruits and develops a diverse corps of outstanding college graduates and professionals to make an initial two year commitment to teach in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the movement to end educational inequity.