Alumnus Innovates for Low-Income Students

PROVO, Utah – Jan 18, 2018 – In a rural, low-income community in Granville County, North Carolina, a group of AP calculus high school students came to class to find no teacher. The situation didn’t just continue for a few days—the class sat teacherless for over two months. 

Josh Doying, a BYU public health alumnus, taught a freshman math class across the hall through Teach for America, an organization that recruits educators to teach pre-K through grade twelve in low-income communities. Doying had a deep desire to help his students succeed, but as he spoke to the freshmen about the importance of furthering their education, he felt the emptiness they saw in the nearby senior calculus class. Even the brightest, most hardworking students faced deep inequity.

Issues such as teacher truancy, lack of funding, and lack of classroom materials put otherwise brilliant students at a severe disadvantage in numerous areas across the country. Of the students in low-income communities such as those in Granville, only one in ten will graduate from college. Statistics like this motivated Doying even more to be a changemaker in America’s educational system.

Doying’s passion for combating inequality began during his time at BYU when he participated in an on-campus internship with Teach for America through the Ballard Center’s Social Innovation Projects. 

“What the internship helped me see was how unequally we provide education in the United States and how students in low-income communities are denied access to opportunities that their more wealthy peers have,” Doying says.

After completing his internship, Doying decided to pursue Teach for America further, leading him to the position in North Carolina. As he taught for two years, he incorporated innovative technology into his classroom and led his freshman math class to the top of the county on the end-of-year exams. He also filled in when he could for the teacherless AP calculus class. 

After his two-year commitment, Doying went on to become a recruiter for Teach for America in the Washington D.C. metro area and regularly recruits from BYU. His advice to BYU students is to find a social issue they are passionate about and use their talents to make an impact. Combating social issues doesn’t have to be a free-time-only pursuit—Doying has made it his full-time passion. 

“The challenges of today need the leaders of today to solve them,” Doying says. “So if you are at BYU at this awesome institution doing incredible things, find the work that needs your service and do that work.” 

If you are interested in doing a Social Innovation Project, add BUS M 491R for Fall or Winter semesters or email sip@byu.edu with any questions. Teach for America is also accepting applications by 26 January 2018. Email Josh Doying at josh.doying@teachforamerica.org for more information.