When most people hear about Teach for America, they think of an organization that recruits bright young college students, gives them five weeks of training, then collects big bucks from school districts that hire the kids for a two-year gig.
What is not well known is that TFA has a political operation that trains its loyal recruits to get involved in elections, to run for local and state school boards or legislative seats or even higher office.
With its free-market orientation, TFA has become a major political player on the right, especially on education issues, where they advance school choice and undermine teacher professionalism and unions. Their goal is to capture political power for the privatization agenda.
Laura Chapman here presents her review of TFA’s political action arm, Leadership for Educational Excellence:
“Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE) was founded in 2007 as a 501(c)4 spin-off of Teach for America. It offers coaching for Teach for America alumni or staff, and networking for TFA alumni who are interested in elected office and other leadership positions. Candidates for elected office receive support up to the legal limits for in-kind contributions, at no charge to the candidate. LEE offers political and policy fellowships for current and former TFA alums.
“LEE Foundation provides grants to conduct LEE educational events, sponsor internships and fellowships. It also commissions white papers and toolkits to guide dialogue with the general public and others in the education and policy arenas.
“On January 12, 2016, Marketwired reported that Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE), has a new program and “the first cohort of nine “Venture Fellows” who will push for expanded school choice, described as an effort by entrepreneurs to “end educational inequity.” Here are some briefs on the winners.
“Milagros Barsallo, and Veronica Palmer, RISE Colorado. The RISE website is a case study in non-disclosure of any activities other than fundraising and organizing “families” to lobby for choice in schools.
“Nicole Baker Fulgham, The Expectations Project, Nicole is also an Aspen Institute Education Fellow and Mind Trust Education Entrepreneur Fellow who regularly speaks at faith-based and education conferences. Christianity Today Magazine named her one of the 50 Women Leaders Influencing the Church and Culture (2012. The New Schools Venture Fund named her the Entrepreneur to Watch (2014).
“The Expectations Project website is under construction but it says: “There are more than 300,000 places of worship across America compared with roughly 50,000 high-poverty public schools, struggling to meet student needs — a ratio of 6 to 1. “Imagine what might be possible if just a handful of people in each of these congregations took it on themselves to ensure the students in these schools had faithful advocates looking out for their best interests. We believe that the academic achievement gap in U.S. public education can be closed in our lifetimes, but only if people of faith open their hearts, roll up their sleeves, and get to work on behalf of students.”
“The Expectations Project website has a whisper link to WeWork Wonder Bread Factory, a co-working space in Washington DC. That link took me directly to a report titled: ”DR. JEFFRY WOODS ON THE RECENT INDY TEP CLERGY ROUNDTABLE” (June 2016). Dr. Jeffry Woods is described as “the Indianapolis Regional Director for The Expectations Project” a faith based organization that addresses inequities in public schools. Participants in the roundtable included: Mr. Jay Geshay – The Vice President of the United Way, Dr. David Hampton – Senior Pastor of Light of the World Christian Church (who also serves as the Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis), Pastor Richard A. Reynolds – Senior Pastor of New Revelation, and Mr. Earl Martin Phalen – Founder of Summer Advantage and Phalen Leadership Academies in Indianapolis. Mind Trust is major promoter of Teach for America and charter schools. http://www.expectations.org/interviews/dr-jeffry-woods-on-the-recent-indy-tep-clergy-roundtable/
“Claire Blumenson, School Justice Project. Based in Washington DC provides legal counsel to and serves as an advocate for students ages 17-22 with special education needs who are involved in the DC justice system.
“Eric Leslie, Union Capital Boston. A mobile-based loyalty program for low-income families that provides social and financial service rewards (money, access to services) in exchange for their community involvement in schools, health centers, and civic programs.
“Frank McMillan, Lead organizer of New Jersey Together, a multi-faith coalition in northern New Jersey and an affiliate of The Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF). IAF is the nation’s oldest and largest multi-faith organizing network dealing with issues in urban centers, including education, http://metro-iaf.org/issuesvictories/74
“Richard Pelayo, and Jessica Stewart GO Public Schools. Based in Oakland but recruiting other districts in California to support private governance of schools—policy, practice, and culture—claiming to “promote excellence and equity for our students and families.”
“Amber Welsh, for Austin Kids First Action, a PAC that receives funds to position preferred charter-friendly candidates on the local school board.
“The challenges we face in education are as complex and diverse as our communities,” said LEE Executive Director Michael Buman. “The idea isn’t to find a single solution, but rather to assist LEE members in forging alliances and identifying community-driven solutions.”
“LEE fellows participate in an eleven-month boot camp suitable for executive directors, with intensive coaching, site visits, peer-to-peer networking, and other supports. The boot camp ends with an event where fellows seek capital by presenting their ventures to potential investors and partners.
“Here are excerpts about the board members of LEE from the website https://educationalequity.org
“Mike Buman is the executive director of Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE). He was a partner in the New York office of the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Co.
“Elisa Villanueva Beard became the sole chief executive officer of Teach For America in 2015, after serving as the co-CEO alongside Matthew Kramer for two years. Prior to her role as CEO, she led Teach For America’s field operations as the chief operating officer.
“Steuart Walton is one of the heirs to the Walton family fortune from Walmart. He is CEO of Game Composites, Ltd. He has worked for Walmart’s international division in the mergers and acquisitions group and serves on the board of the Walton Family Foundation.
“The following serve on both the Board of Directors of LEE and the LEE Foundation.
“Emma Bloomberg. The oldest daughter of New York City’s billionaire ex-mayor Michael Bloomberg. Emma was most recently chief of staff at the Robin Hood Foundation, a nonprofit that funds programs in the five boroughs of New York City.
“Arthur Rock. Principal of Arthur Rock & Co. a venture capital firm. He is also on the board of Teach For America and Children’s Scholarship Fund and an active funder of KIPP.
“Michael Park. A partner in McKinsey & Company’s New York office and leads the firm’s Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice for the U.S. Northeast. He helps lead McKinsey’s pro-bono work with Teach For America.
“LEE is the source of well-funded and sophisticated faux “grassroots” movements led by carefully trained entrepeneurs who intend to make public education into a private enterprise.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
cross- posted athttp://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Laura-Chapman-Explains-TFA-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Education_Fraud_Group-Think_Legislative-161115-377.html
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Why does this seem like the plot of a bad science fiction movie? Just when public schools have made a few steps forward in some states, here comes the “stepford” army of TFA ready to invade local elections. They are as bad as Moonies. We need to count that followers of this blog will work against their efforts in every state and local election. On the bright side, enrollment is down for TFA, but that won’t stop the true believers. We have to stop them at the polls.
In a similar note, Peter Greene posted an article about Jeb Bush’s “Charterpalooza.” All the usual suspects with their horrible, very bad, no good ideas, will attend.http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2016/11/jebs-charterpalooza-coming-soon.html
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And, completing the sense of a science fiction otherworldliness, we must not miss the fact that there are now “trainings” in place across the nation for teachers, principals, superintendents, consultants, coaches, facilitators and even school boards. I think that “trainings” are one way you get away with spending that Title I money.
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Laura, this is an excellent piece of political journalism. I really appreciate all you are doing to educate us.
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Laura points out, to us, trends from the school privatizers’ onslaught. We’re very appreciative of the knowledge. Corroborating her earlier reporting, there was a recent article about wealthy donors and the public school agenda, published at The Conversation. The authors, university faculty, referred to school boards as “old fashioned”. That is an ideologically-driven, unjustifiable generalization, unworthy of a researcher. In the ending summary of the article, the authors wrote, “It remains to be seen whether school boards are strengthened by the nationalization of local school board elections…(financed by distant wealthy donors)”. The more likely outcome is, for-profit, schools-in-a-box, a tech industry investment, which would strengthen the bottom line of corporate privatizers, at the expense of students and communities. IMO, the authors, valued neither Democratic processes nor, estimated probable outcome.
I was shocked at the audacity of the faculty authors, to write, “Reform takes time. It takes compromise. It takes understanding of the day-to-day realities of local schools.” NO. When profit takers want to rob communities of their most important common good, using “rephorm” to mask it, conscientious citizens are compelled to turn back the barbarians at the gate.
Because self-appointed, money-grubbing slime want an agenda implemented, for other people’s kids with other people’s taxes, neither compromise nor time is called for. Immediate rejection of their tsunami of money, which buys politicians, is imperative.
If productivity gain was an objective of the rich and powerful, they would focus on Wall Street’s 2% drag on the U.S. economy.
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I could not find the discussion about school boards at The Conversation, but there can be no doubt that major foundations are underwriting a sustained and multifaceted campaign to make public education market based, with only enough structure to retain the subsidies afforded to public education by taxes (e.g., vouchers). The Center for Reinventing Public Education, is one of several hubs of activity intent on equating customer choice with democratic voice and obviating the need for citizen oversight of education, especially through elected officials, public meetings, open records and so on. CRPE Is funded by foundations–Gates, Walton, Kauffman, Casey, and others.
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The Spenser Foundation provided funding for the study. All three faculty authors have received money from Spenser. The C.V. of one of the co-authors, lists more than $500,000 since 2000. What is needed, is a central repository listing of faculty and the amounts and sources of their funding. Mercedes Schneider posted Roland Fryer’s grants, which are very telling in light of his prescription for a two-tier educational system. I hope the Network for Public Education, AFT or NEA undertake the effort.
Article title, “Are Wealthy Donors Influencing Public School Agenda?”
It’s also posted at Truthout.
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This evil deceptive web is complex and runs deep. Shelob from “The Lord of the Rings” would be jealous.
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11-15-16 Laura H. Chapman Regency Unit 1501 2444 Madison Road Cincinnati, OH 45208-1228 chapmanLH@aol.com (email is more reliable than cell) Cell 513-861-7118
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