Hi Pencils of Promise! Thanks so much for taking the time to consider my application for Chegg Representative to Guatemala. I've been passionate about education since I was a kid (no joke) and would love the opportunity to learn more about education in developing countries. After reading "The Promise of a Pencil" and hearing Adam Braun speak at Chegg, I'm particularly interested in how Pencils of Promise integrates the community's culture into teacher training and curriculum development, and how a PoP school impacts the community long-term. I would absolutely love the opportunity to visit Guatemala with you--please pick me!

1. Sydney Lewis
Application for Chegg
Representative to Guatemala

2. I’m really into education

3. I grew up
playing school
with my
siblings.

4. When I was older, I attended the
University of Texas

5. and majored in
UTeach English,

6. which has been widely recognized as a
model for teacher preparation.
[source]

7. After graduating, I was
awarded the
Warren Fellowship
for Future Teachers

8. and spent six days studying historical and pedagogical
issues related to the Holocaust and genocide.
(Holocaust Museum Houston)

9. In 2011, I began
teaching
English/ESL in
Houston ISD
(this was my classroom)

10. Houston ISD is the
largest school district
in Texas

11. 30% of students are limited
English proficient
Houston ISD is the
largest school district
in Texas

12. 30% of students are limited
English proficient
81% of students are
economically disadvantaged
Houston ISD is the
largest school district
in Texas

13. It was not easy,

14. but the kids were great.

15. I also volunteered at Literacy Advance,
where I taught adult ESL classes two nights
per week.

16. After two years, I was
frustrated with the state of
education

17. and wanted to develop skills
that would one day allow me
to have greater impact.

18. So, I moved to San Francisco
and was hired at Chegg.

19. My job as a
Community Advocate
allows me to interact with
students all over the world.

20. I also volunteer as a tutor at
Community Housing
Partnership,

21. whose mission is to help
homeless people secure
housing and become self-
sufficient.

22. Finally, I stay informed of
trends in education by
creating teacher resources at
Shmoop.

23. I want to go to Guatemala
with Chegg
& Pencils of Promise

24. so that I can learn more about
education in developing
countries.

25. After all, I believe that the
Pencils of Promise
kids of today

26. are the Chegg students of
the future.

27. So, if you bring me to Guatemala,
you’ll also be bringing:

28. Passion for education.

29. Passion for education.
Knowledge of teacher preparation.

30. Passion for education.
Experience teaching kids and adults.
Knowledge of teacher preparation.

31. Passion for education.
Experience teaching kids and adults.
A desire to learn and share my
knowledge with my coworkers at
Chegg—and beyond!
Knowledge of teacher preparation.

32. Thanks so much for
considering my
application!

33. Thanks so much for
considering my
application!
Feel free to contact me at
slewis@chegg.com