As the world turns, the reform leaders come and go, like swallows or salmon or starlings.
Either Michelle Rhee or Wendy Kopp founded the New Teacher Project, now known simply as TNTP. Then Kopp stepped down, then Rhee stepped down, then Rhee’s replacement stepped down, and the new leader of TNTP is Karolyn Belcher.
TNTP is here to supply new teachers for urban districts, well prepared and ready for reformer success.
Belcher is a product of Teach for America; she taught for two years in New Orleans.
As Mercedes Schneider explains, Belcher opened a charter school in New York City. It was one of the first charter schools in New York Cityto be closed for poor performance.
She then took a high-level position with TNTP, rose rapidly through the ranks, and is now president, with an annual salary north of $250,000 (which she received when she was only a VP).
Having led a failed charter school, she is well prepared to direct TNTP and produce recruits who are ready for success.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“… like swallows, salmon or starlings.”
You’re far too kind: more like bacterium, viruses and malignancies.
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And although it is a misconception that lemmings run off cliffs, these reform leaders seem to be doing just that. The difference being that they seem to be jumping with golden parachutes.
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Yes, and landing in the warm embrace of Bill Gates, Eli Broad and the Walton family (shudder).
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Not only do they recruit teachers, TNTP also hires district level administrators. They are here in Detroit at the EAA and Detroit Public Schools. It angers me to no end that these people who have no credible training or experience in education, yet they are the ones in control and those of us who are trained with years of experience are being blocked out of education.
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This is a perfect example of failing up. Children deserve better.
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Do I hear a hint of sarcasm in this post? Dang, I wish this gravy train had existed when I was graduating from college! (snark alert)
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Just WHO is hiring TNTP’s abysmal teachers? How does TNTP stay “in business?” I just don’t get it. If you are a novice teacher, traditionally trained, certified, its horribly difficult to get into a public school district, AND, you have to tick all the required boxes, even have the “highly qualified” designation. Even WITH a year of clinical 1 & 2 (student teaching) and other experience (perhaps a teacher’s aide), TFA gets spots that the traditionally trained, certified, licensed teachers can’t. WHO IS HIRING TNTP?
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I’ve asked this on this blog in relation to other of these “reformers” who are rewarded for their failings: did this woman fail up? If so, why?
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