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November 17, 2008
Pro-Teach For America, but anti-Wendy Kopp for Ed Secretary
From the comments section, a response to Democrats for Education Reform’s boosting of Wendy Kopp for Secretary of Education:
I am an alumna of TFA and a current staff person. 60% of our Corps members stay in education after their 2 year committment. The idea is to cultivate more Michelle Rhees, Mike Feinbergs, and David Levins as well as more people like Cami Anderson (Superindendent of District 79 in NYC). While I don’t think Wendy Kopp is a strong candidate for Secretary of Education due to her lack of actual teaching experience I do not feel that TFA is part of the problem.
Quick explainer: Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin are the founders of the KIPP charter school network, Michelle Rhee is the chancellor of the D.C. public schools, and Cami Anderson runs alternative schools in New York City. All are TFA alums.
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November 17th, 2008 8:29 pm
The TFA mantra is “60% of TFAers remain in education.”
How many remain in their assigned school after two years?
How many transfer to higher achieving schools?
How many transfer to other school systems?
How many remain as classroom teachers?
If a signifcant percents of TFAers leave inner city schools after two years … has the program achieved it’s mission?
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November 18th, 2008 1:43 am
While almost none of them remain in their assigned school after two years, a huge number go on to lead either charter urban schools or other low income schools. Still others go on to become policy makers and advocates for inner-city children. I think one of TFA’s greatest achievements is bringing publicity to the achievement gap.
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November 18th, 2008 6:56 am
From my experience, about a third of my fellow CMs stayed on longer than our two year commitment. However, after two years, many of my peers transfered to other high needs schools in this same area. I would say across the board they were looking for the best way to effectively reach the most students. For some this meant staying where they were, and for others it meant moving to a different school in the district where the administration would be more supportive in helping and supporting teachers in making some of their biggest great ideas happen. Others also found the right balance of school support and student investment in the local charter schools. Several, like myself, didn’t stay in the classroom, but continue to work in providing educational services to the same community I was placed in with TFA. I definitely would not be where I am today, nor working in education, without my TFA experience.
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