Send a Teacher Backpacking!

Drew Smith Start Date: Oct 16, 2016 - End Date: Dec 16, 2016
  • Spain
  • Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Prague, Czech Republic
  • London, United Kingdom
  • Paris, France

My Travel Story

by: Drew Smith Start Date: Oct 16, 2016 - End Date: Dec 16, 2016
Hi kind hearted, wonderful donors!

Short version:

I'm a high school Spanish teacher in need of a refresh and recharge of my energy and language skills. I teach at a school called KIPP Delta, in my hometown of Helena, Arkansas. We are settled in the heart of the Mississippi Delta - one of the poorest regions of the country. The challenges that exist in the educational systems in the Mississippi Delta are many and, at times, overwhelming. Like most teachers, I spend my teacher salary mostly on my student loans, bills, and my students - leaving me little to none to do much traveling. For these and other reasons I will spend my Christmas break in Europe, mostly Spain, in order to refresh my language skills for my students and recharge my energy for the planning, grading, parenting, babysitting, and meetings that go along with teaching.

If you're wondering why I'm not taking my Spanish students on a Spanish language trip, don't worry, that's happening during Spring break :)

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you have made it this far, I assume you are able to identify with my struggles and desires, and therefore you will understand my immense gratitude for any help you give me. Muchas gracias!

(long version)

I'm a high school Spanish teacher in Helena, Arkansas - the heart of the Mississippi Delta. That sentence should be enough to explain why I can't fund my own trip, but I'm more than happy to elaborate. The Mississippi Delta is one of the poorest regions of the country. The town in which I teach has the highest dropout rate in the Arkansas - a state that already has drop out rates well above the national average. Teachers here try their best to raise educational and professional standards of the area, but the mountain is steep. Very few teachers stay for more than two years because of the very real challenge that exists here.

This is my hometown. I chose to come back here after living and studying abroad for two years in order to make a difference. I teach at KIPP, a charter school, where I am at the school for at least 11 hours a day. At KIPP we have been able to raise the bar for education in the Delta, and are able to boast a 100% college acceptance rate for each of our graduation classes. This remarkable achievement is attained through countless personal sacrifices on behalf of teachers, students, and parents.

The fight for my students is a draining one, and the best way I know how to recharge myself is through travel. For this reason I will be spending my Christmas break backpacking for two weeks around Europe. I will spend most of my time in Spain with friends to refresh my Spanish skills and come back prepared for another semester of teaching Spanish 1, 2, and 3.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you have made it this far, I assume you are able to identify with my struggles and desires, and therefore you will understand my immense gratitude for any help you give me. Muchas gracias!
  • Spain
  • Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Prague, Czech Republic
  • London, United Kingdom
  • Paris, France

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