In Defense of Teach for America

I think that the public conversation attacking TFA is, in essence, a distraction from the real mission that the organization is pursuing—which is creating an equitable educational playing field for all. It is not an attack on veteran teachers, but the creation of another pipeline of potential teachers into a profession that isn’t uniformly creating opportunity and results for all. This comes with an understanding that when we hire 5 teachers from a pool of 50 applicants, we will create a better team than when we pick the only five who showed up. Or worse yet, when we get only 4, and we have to settle for a rotation of subs for an entire year. Sadly, that is still a reality, even in districts like Denver Public Schools where achievement, enrollment, and graduation rates are rising and teachers are coming in from education programs, TFA, and other alternative routes, like Denver Teacher Residency.

I think the debate has gone askew because effective veteran teachers are running a smoke screen for less effective teachers. As a teacher, I’ve seen colleagues shine, and I’ve seen them fail. Veteran teachers must remember that good teaching and constant improvement IS and SHOULD BE a requirement for continuing as a teacher, and the fact that a colleague has become a friend does not guarantee they are doing what is best for kids. 25-45% of low-income students reaching proficiency are not the signs of success. Neither is the fact that most urban teachers wouldn’t trust their own kids to the schools they teach in.

Not everyone in Teach for America will stay. That is a sad fact. But many of them will, and in Denver, the list of Mile High Teachers, nominated by their schools as outstanding teachers in the district was filled with people I know as great TFA alums who have stayed in the classroom and are making a difference every day. Some will leave after two years, but many of those alums that leave take the fight to other sectors and higher levels of government and business. They bring the focus and the resources that are badly needed back into the profession they left.

Charter middle schools and high schools, as well as public schools in Denver run and staffed by TFA and other non-traditional alums are changing the opportunities available in our city. A KIPP or Denver School of Science and Technology school may not appeal to wealthy white parents already living in a well-staffed, well-resourced school, but it’s a welcome alternative to a school like Montbello High, where principal after principal has left or been fired because graduation rates remain low and violence is high.

If you must hate: hate the teachers who are not carrying their share of the burden, not simply someone carrying a particular label, TFA or otherwise.

This is not a war of between traditional and non-traditional educator preparation programs.

This is a war to replace the complacency and low expectations held for the children of low-income and minority families. We are and should be calling all teachers who will fight and carry the crusade to all corners of this country to replace the broken parts in this system, piece by piece.

Enough Already About Your Misgivings...

I had another one of those conversations this weekend that have become all too familiar. It goes mainly like this, "What are you doing next year? Any Plans?" and they'll answer with whatever they're doing. I'll say, "I'm doing Teach for America in Denver." They follow with with, "Denver is a great city, you'll fit right in there!"

The next stage varies from person to person. Having many friends similar to myself, a lot of them will say they either looked into TFA or even applied. Some don't. And then comes the part I love to hate, the almost inevitable "I'm not really a fan of Teach for America's methods, but I'm sure you'll do great because you're not like the rest of them." 

Now what exactly does that mean? Here's what it sounds like, "I'm making a generalization based on a couple of things I've heard or read, or even based on nothing. I like you, so I'll pretend you don't qualify for my generalization." 

When people tell me they got into Harvard, or got a job on Wall Street, or don't have a job, I congratulate them on their accomplishment and tell them something nice like, "That's a great accomplishment," or "That will be a great change from being a poor college student." I don't say "I dislike your grad school or job, but I won't hold it against you." Come on people, get a little class.

I know Teach for America is hard; I know TFA hires a lot of people without teaching experience, like me; I also know that they slam us with a lot of prep work in the short time we have and all their studies show that TFA teachers have great results in the classroom. Get over it: We didn't get a four-year teaching degree, but we still have a lot to offer these kids. A lot of schools just have a hard time finding teachers, and we make it a little easier. 

Funny note: As this particular conversation progressed, the girl with whom I was chatting told me, "I don't think they adequately prepare people to teach, that's why I'm starting an NGO called 'Educators for America.'" Really, Educators for America? She went on to describe a program nearly identical to Teach for America. Good for her, it sounds like a great program, but honestly, any differences were very minor. Why be a hater?

I've got a follower!

It seemed an appropriate time to make a new post, now that I have a follower. I would like to personally thank Joe Sasanuma for taking that honor...

Oh, I guess I should also thank him for being a great help during the process of choosing and then applying to law schools. I went through a relatively successful search and destroy process in which I killed 11 law school applications in fulfilling my mission. (Yeah, I know that metaphor really makes no sense.) I'm 3-1-3, with 5 abstaining right now, which is far from a perfect record, but far better off than I would be without the help of Joe, the pre-law advisor, and a few others. 

Senior year--supposed to be a breeze, but almost completely tainted by the search for something meaningful to do afterwards. I spent so many hours preparing for the LSAT and taking it twice, re-writing my personal statement for a total of about 15 printed drafts (not counting all the edits in between), visiting law schools, and then eventually applying and interviewing with Teach for America. 

Why, oh why, did I apply to law school. That was a big whoops. I started out by thanking Joe for his help, which I still stand by, but I should have listened a little more to him and all the others who told me to make sure it was what I wanted before I applied. After a couple of law-related courses, a job offer, and some hard thinking, I still believe that some day I'll end up in a law school somewhere, but that day is not yet. I just wish I'd figured that out hundreds of hours and dollars sooner. 

I am excited to be in Denver, teaching for America for the next two years. It also has been a difficult process, but at least I reached the goal of getting something of a life plan together. 

More to come.