About 600 former Peace Corps members have worked in high-needs city schools since 1985 through the Peace Corps Fellows program at Columbia University's Teachers College. About 300 are in classrooms now.

 

Sara Lowes, who teaches students English at Marble Hill High, said her Peace Corps years in the Ukraine have helped her relate to students who recently moved to the city.

 

"When you work abroad or study abroad, you really struggle to communicate with people," she said. "Then you learn the language, and you realize how open and warm people can be toward guests in their country."

 

This article appeared in the January 27, 2008 edition of the Daily News.