Read this glowing report about how TFA alums have taken over leadership roles across Indiana, with 11 working in the State Education Department.
This is a state where the Republican Governor and Legislature have passed voucher legislation, encouraged the proliferation of charter schools, and welcomed for-profit schooling. It is the full rightwing agenda, exceeded perhaps in scope and ambition only by Bobby Jindal’s privatization agenda (which is led by TFA alum John White).
Near the end of the article, the reporter finds an experienced educator or two to wonder whether five weeks of training is sufficient, but the rest of the piece glows with adulation for the kids who are reshaping the state along the lines of corporate-style reform.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I think if I read one more negative article regarding teachers and the profession, I may go mad!
TFA folks hold a number of spots in the TN Dept of Ed as well. I don’t know off-hand the exact number.
I wonder how much collective teaching experience there is among the 11 TFA-ers at the helm in Indiana. Even 30?
I find it troubling whenever a school-level administrator has only a handful of years teaching experience. How much more ridiculous is it then to have someone with two to three years teaching experience calling the shots at a state level?
It’s already completely more ridiculous. Couldn’t get any more ridiculous
Do you hear me scream? Louisiana’s state Superintendent John White is no educational leader. Indianapolis and Indiana, watch out!
Whenever an article likes this appears, they always manage to take pictures of the TFAers helping an individual student or small group with smiles on their faces. Does the public think that veteran teachers don’t do this?
Here’s hoping a future article might contain some additional information on TFA:
-More than 50 percent of Teach for America teachers leave after two years and more than 80 percent leave after three years.
-Studies indicate that students of novice Teach for America teachers perform significantly less well in reading and math than those of credentialed beginning teachers.
-The significant recurring costs of Teach for America is estimated at over $70,000 per recruit.
-Teach for America teachers make up about 0.2 percent of the country’s several million teachers (yet have a disproportionate role in current education reform agendas).
Source: http://www.greatlakescenter.org/docs/Policy_Briefs/Heilig_TeachForAmerica.pdf
It’s great that bright, young people are interested in teaching. It would be even better if they stayed and made it a career. It would be interesting to see if their views on education “reform” changed.
Just trying to stay afloat in Indiana…
A profession that allows amateurs and illiterates to redefine it will soon be no profession at all.
T F A = Totally (insert F word here) up Agenda
Hey now, you’re getting into my territory with that kind of comment!!
So you are not annoyed by my comment to TE anymore? Maybe I redeemed myself?
I wouldn’t be surprised if the people (journalists, admin, etc) who aren’t TFA but “believe” in it are really trying just trying to build buzz and press for themselves by saying pushing the cause. TFA in the mainstream media seems to be synonymous with good, young reform, so why not ride the wave that comes with it they probably think.
I’m a TFA alum, and it sickens me when I read about other TFA alumni who have easily climbed all these leadership ladders after a mere two years in the classroom. It takes more than two years for you to open your eyes and realize the problems that plague our schools are run a lot deeper than “teacher effectiveness.”
Why isn’t anyone asking, “How the hell did these 20-somethings climb policy leadership ladders so easily? Is it really that simple to become someone in charge of EDpolicy?”
2020 Vote Yo Mista!
“It takes more than two years for you to open your eyes and realize the problems that plague our schools are run a lot deeper than “teacher effectiveness.”….Thank you! I’m glad you realize that!
During Indiana’s Select Commission on Education meeting a few weeks ago, two TFA directors (?) (don’t know their official title) spoke about how wonderful TFA is and how they are making a big difference in the education of children. One spoke about a particular charter school that is TFA led as being one of the top 9 improving schools in the state. Of course, I didn’t take their word for it, but the legislators were awed and wowed by their enthusiasm. The particular school mentioned has problems retaining teachers and students. Their suspension numbers are outrageous.
Enrollment 584
Expulsions 4
In-school suspensions 857
Out-of-school suspensions 596
What other profession would tolerate this nonsense? Should medical students run hospitals? Should law students run courts? Why are we infantilized like this?
Because teaching is a female-dominated profession. It’s treated with contempt.
Insipid, condescending missionaries at best, scabs and privatizers at worst, they should be exposed at every opportunity …