Since graduating from the Robins School last spring, Dean Dickos has exchanged the world-renown university that captured his heart the moment he set foot on its stunning campus for the gritty halls of an inner-city Philadelphia school.

Dickos, an accounting major with a minor in Spanish, was inspired by Robins School professor Joe Ben Hoyle, who demonstrated how an instructor can care as much about his students as he does the material he presents. Professor Hoyle helped Dickos with his selection of Teach For America, which aims to end educational inequity by enlisting the nation's most promising future leaders in their teacher corps.

Teach For America recruits outstanding recent college graduates to commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools. The program invests in the training and professional development necessary to ensure their success as teachers in the nation's highest-poverty communities.

"Teach For America told us dozens of times that in our lives, we were used to working hard and would often succeed as a result. This program, however, would not fit that same description in any way. One day can be an absolute success where students learn and goals are met. The next can present some of the most difficult challenges imaginable in a classroom," said Dickos.

"I have learned that children in this country live in far worse conditions than I could imagine, where their homes are not as safe for them as the schools in which we teach, or that they are products of a failing education system which only serves to prolong the achievement gap in America. It is amazing to know that I am a factor in what seems like a nearly impossible life. And as one small influencer, I can have an enormous impact. I have seen gains, both academic and behavioral, that have made my efforts worthwhile."

Each Teach for America corps member must go above and beyond traditional expectations to lead their students to significant academic achievement, overcoming the challenges of poverty despite the current capacity of the school system.

Professor Hoyle spoke at length with Dickos during the application process, guiding him and providing valuable insight into the situation in which Dickos was placing himself, ultimately helping him make his decision.

The Robins School exceeded Dickos' expectations, with a faculty that cared about its students and individual attention that promotes excellence in its students.

Dickos plans to stay in the education field after his two years with Teach for America. He is enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, working on his teaching certification and a Masters in Education. Right now, he does not have much free time. He lives with three other teachers in the program, and they spend most of their time outside the classroom preparing for school. When he can find a spare minute, he likes to relax and catch up with friends from his salad days at the University of Richmond.