The resistance to teach for America continues to grow. Here is another organization bringing together teachers against TFA.
Here is their Facebook page.
The leading group of college students organized to resist TFA and to foght for professional teachers is SUPE: Students United for Public Educatuon.
SUPE has a mission:
“Students United for Public Education (SUPE) evolved out of the work of college students involved in defending public education from its attackers. In particular, SUPE was founded to fill a void in the movement for public education — before SUPE, there was no national student organization devoted solely to this cause. Under the guise of “closing the achievement gap” and “school choice,” for-profit corporations and their political representatives have sought to privatize and sell off public education. SUPE understands that a profit motive cannot guarantee a good education. Instead, only a robust and well-supported public education system — along with the courage and will to directly confront problems of racial and economic inequality — can provide a quality education for all.
“SUPE is a community based organization because we believe that public schools are the heart of every community. We understand that in order for our goals to be reached, we must work with not only K-12 students, but parents, teachers, and community members as a whole. We are not here to tell any community or students what to do. Rather, we want to work with communities to find what their needs are, and have them lead the way in the struggle as we work as equals to organize the change they believe is best.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“SUPE is a community based organization because we believe that public schools are the heart of every community. We understand that in order for our goals to be reached, we must work with not only K-12 students, but parents, teachers, and community members as a whole. We are not here to tell any community or students what to do.”
SUPE merely needs to provide students, parents, teachers, and community members with the TRUTH. This statement should apply to all of us as we work to expose the lies of the edu-crat corporatizers.
TFA is an Ivy League cancer. Not only does it replace experienced teachers with privileged resume-builders, in Florida, it has metastasized into Governor Scott’s Board of Education. Meet Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, a TFAer who spread to the administrative ranks of the scourge in South Florida. Her current claim to fame is as CEO of her own little company, Radical Partners, a social impact accelerator that helps individuals and organizations increase their positive social-impact footprint.
Huh? What is a “social impact accelerator”? Does that mean she will Facebook and Twitter for a price? How does this qualify you to sit on the State Board of Education? Oh right. This is Florida where an indictment for Medicare fraud qualifies one to sleep in the Governor’s mansion…
Michael Weston,
Those of us in TN feel your pain. Meet TN Commissioner of Education, Kevin Huffman, ex TFA, ex-wife M. Rhee, one of Jebbie’s Chiefs for Change, and so arrogant some of TN’s republican legislators rejected parts of his privatization agenda for TN schools.
https://www.facebook.com/RemoveKevinHuffman
It has also metastasized into Louisiana’s state board of education. We can finally claim to be first in something related to education – corruption.
Don’t forget NC’s education advisor to the governor.
If you don’t already know this, there is a group called Teachers United that is made up primarily of ex-TFA. Their founder, Chris Eide, is a TFA-er, and they undermine the local, state, and national unions any chance they get. Yet another AstroTurf group who takes Gates money and claim to be for public education, but actively campaigns for charters, does stuff for the CRPE=CRAP at U Wash, campaigns against seniority, other ed deform activities. Supposedly they have been “advising” NEA too.
http://www.teachersunitedwa.org/tu_and_the_wea_rep_assembly
http://wacharters.org/qa-with-teachers-uniteds-chris-eide-washington-needs-a-public-charter-school-option/
I love SUPE’s mission statement. Well said! What a great group of young, smart, informed and caring students. Go SUPE!
Yes, we real pedagogues are united against TFA.
If TFA were a way to supply teaching assistants to real teachers, then the utilization may work well. But the model has been completely inverted with the inexperienced and uncredentialed replacing the experienced and credentialed.
Take a look, and I encourage anyone to use the image from my blog as an advocacy tool in their own literature. All I ask is for a simply by line:
http://co-opt-ed.org/2014/03/25/good-morning-class-im-dr-evil/
Clarification:
Co-Opt-Ed is NOT my blog, but another educator’s blog that used work from my blog. Just click on my name to see my blog if you need free images for your media.
Thank you SUPE! TFA is indeed as one commentor put it.. “a metastasizing disease”.. and they are now being funded by mega billionaires at a district near you and you and you! Veteran teachers are required to teach them on the job (which they would not mind as much if this group were career dedicated). But after 2 years they up and leave to ridiculously become CEO’s and School superintendents etc… It is good to see youthful activism alive and well. Go SUPE Team!!!
You are absolutely 100% correct!! Many of these TFAers have added nothing but confusion and discord to the school buildings, as far as K12 public education is concerned. For the most part these people are clearly representing a segment of educators who had not chosen education as a field of study of profession and the job of teacher is a last resort, when they have first failed to make it to Wall St, Law school or Med school. Are children are the ones who suffer. Have you ever seen a TFA person in a successful suburban district? And you will hardly ever witness them anywhere but under performing, under funded, urban district that are under siege already. A five week summer course is preferred over years of experience and dedication. Support real teachers!!!!
Teacher Advocate Defends Today’s Public School Teachers…teachers need appreciation, respect and thanks NOT criticism for the good they do for society. Book advocates teachers and supports our public schools
Total Teaching: Your Passion Makes It Happen
By Dr. Tom Staszewski
From the first-year teacher to the most experienced veteran, this book will provide an inspiring message that yes, indeed…teaching is the most noble profession. It serves as an acknowledgement of the importance of teachers and recognizes that ‘teaching is the profession that has created all other professions.’ This book provides real-life tools, tips and strategies to have a successful school year and to persevere beyond the challenges associated with the profession. This inspiring book is filled with insightful and meaningful stories and examples, it provides a motivational pep talk to help teachers stay focused, to succeed in the classroom, to maintain the passion that brought them into the profession and develop a plan to be the best that they can be!
As featured in http://www.teacherscount.org TeachersCount is working to create a permanent culture of teacher appreciation in the United States.
Total Teaching: Your Passion Makes It Happen, By Tom Staszewski, Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Education Available for purchase on Barnes and Noble.com or http://www.rowmaneducation.com
Teaching standards have risen and so have teacher stress levels. The pressure imposed on teachers by administrators, parents, and students, often creates feelings of teacher self-doubt. Luckily, Total Teaching by Tom Staszewski offers those in this much beleaguered profession both guidance and inspiration.
Offering constructive advice and teaching tools, Total Teaching provides readers with a source of hope. Staszewski provides tips and proven strategies for success that are applicable both inside and outside the classroom. If you are looking for a gift for a special teacher, or looking to purchase a bit of personal inspiration, TOTAL TEACHING will help shine some light at the end of your tunnel.
Frequently asked questions about Total Teaching…Your Passion Makes it Happen,
written by Dr. Tom Staszewski, tomstasz@neo.rr.com
What prompted you to write the book?
In this era of policy change and educational reform at the K-12 level, suddenly “everybody” has become an expert on our school systems. In my opinion, there is a great amount of unjustified criticism that is unfairly being leveled against our schools and our teachers. Most of the criticism is unfounded, baseless, undeserved and distorted. Many critics of our school systems have never set foot in a classroom to see what’s going on —other than their own experience as a former student—and their criticism is erroneous and counterproductive. If they (critics) would take the time to better understand just how hard the teaching profession really is, they would change their criticism to face the reality of today’s schools and society at large. I believe that most critics would find it difficult to even make it through even one day in the life of a typical teacher. The essence behind the book is that today’s teachers are under a lot of pressure and scrutiny and there is a need for more support, recognition and appreciation for the good that they are providing for society. So the point of my book is to inform the uninformed about how difficult it is to teach in many of today’s schools. And to provide recognition to educators and to thank teachers for the positive difference they are making in society. I’ve always said that our schools are a reflection of society and society at large has changed and undergone a dramatic shift from previous generations. The book also focuses on the success stories and “what’s right” with our schools rather than “what’s wrong” with our schools. Unlike previous generations…in many homes today, whether it be a single parent household or with both parents home…many parents send their kids to school unfed, unprepared and with little or no basic skills and often with no social skills, etc.
In my previous work as a motivational speaker and professional development trainer, I have personally worked with thousands and thousands of teachers statewide and nationwide and I have found them to be hard-working, dedicated, industrious and committed to the success of their students. It’s about time that someone has taken a stand to recognize and acknowledge the value to society that teachers are providing and to thank them for their dedication.
What is the theme of the book?
In addition to thanking and recognizing the good that teachers provide to society, the book is also a handbook that can be used by the teacher as a means of providing coping skills and methods to succeed in the classroom with the trials and tribulations of teaching. It provides a means of offering tips, strategies and techniques to make it through the day and to have a successful school year. In many respects it is a personal growth and development type handbook.
From the first-year teacher to the most experienced veteran, this book provides an inspiring message that yes, indeed…teaching is the most noble profession. It serves as an acknowledgement of the importance of teachers and recognizes that “teaching is the profession that has created all other professions.” This book provides real-life tools, tips and strategies to have a successful school year and to persevere beyond all of the challenges associated with the profession. Filled with insightful and meaningful stories and examples, it will provide a pep talk to help teachers stay focused. Readers are able to maintain the passion that brought them into the profession and to develop a plan to be the best that they can be.