tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post5737977538926565763..comments2023-10-01T06:53:05.812-04:00Comments on The Washington Teacher: Veteran Teachers Need Not Apply: Henderson Recruits TFA Alums Despite Budget DeficitCandi Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12266880795971626269noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-42400196435884120282012-01-22T21:38:02.121-05:002012-01-22T21:38:02.121-05:00Thanks DCPS applicant. I wish you the best in your...Thanks DCPS applicant. I wish you the best in your job search. Thank you for your honesty about TFA and sharing how you decided to go back and get your advanced degree in education. I think you made a wise choice. It is unfortunate that you can't remain in your current school system.<br /><br />I encourage you to continue researching once you get here. I don't know how many years you have but you should request a mentor teacher in DCPS if you are just starting out. Stay connected with your colleagues and I'd love to hear how things go for you in the future once you get hired.Candi Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12266880795971626269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-4423123799747013012012-01-21T23:35:40.871-05:002012-01-21T23:35:40.871-05:00I am a first year teacher looking to move to DC fr...I am a first year teacher looking to move to DC from a high-performing suburban public school in the Midwest. I have been reading these posts to gain a sense of what to expect when I enter the lion's den of ed reform. I feel inclined to join the conversation because I have a history with TFA and sincerely want to know whether my experience will help me or harm me in the job search.<br /><br />After college I was accepted and trained by TFA. I decided to drop out of the 5-week training program before taking a job because I felt completely unprepared for the classroom and overwhelmed by how much politics were emphasized over teacher development. Was I supposed to teach or preach? The teaching methods they pushed were robotic and didn't seem to make sense for my discipline. I was frustrated, confused, and, frankly, a little scared of what lay ahead.<br /><br />I returned home to complete a Master's in education where I developed a knowledge of teaching philosophy that, more than anything, helped me make sense of my distaste for the TFA approach. I student taught for and was hired by a highly competitive district and have consistently received exemplary evaluations for my performance in the classroom. <br /><br />Due to budget cuts and the 'last in, first out' system for hiring and firing, I will lose my job next year, despite my principal's desire to retain me. DCPS advertises its desire to employ smart, energetic young teachers and reward them with merit pay. This is attractive to me because my current employer is tragically unable to do so. While I do not teach for the money, it would be nice to be compensated for getting results.<br /><br />So here I am, a smart teacher who has a degree, has demonstrated success, and wants to make a difference. Will I make it in DCPS having rejected the TFA approach? It's not that I don't respect people who commit to TFA--I do--but I think it is wiser to enter the urban school system having completed something more substantial than a five-week crash course in lesson design. If we want to change education, we need to get TFA's talent to be a little more patient with their training. We owe at least that much to our students.DCPS Applicantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-39067957734115303112011-07-17T07:25:56.682-04:002011-07-17T07:25:56.682-04:00The bottom line is that DCPS is in a sad state of ...The bottom line is that DCPS is in a sad state of affairs. Rhee and Henderson claimed that they wanted to "reform" the educational "system" in DC. The sad fact is that they didn't look at the "system," they only focused on the "teachers." There are many things that people on the outside just aren't aware of. Most people aren't even aware that kids in middle school in DC don't have to pass ANY classes at all. They are passed to the next grade simply based on the number of days that they come to school. Kids are kids. They aren't going to do homework, pass classes, or take standardized tests seriously if they don't HAVE to. If they know that they can come to school, do nothing, and pass, then they will. So kids are passed along until they meet high school where now they "HAVE" to pass classes in order to move to the next grade. To add insult to injury, then you take this system where kids are basically trained that you don't have to do anything in school but show up, and blame the teachers when the kids don't do homework, fail tests, and ignore standardized tests. I submit this. A doctor has a patient who has high blood pressure. He instructs that patient on the disease and how the diet should be modified to prolong life. The patient ignores the doctor, continues to eat salt, and then has a stroke. Is the doctor ineffective? Do we even think to question that? Do I believe that there are ineffective teachers in DC? Of course. There are bad teachers just like there are bad doctors, lawyers, etc. However, if you are going to design an evaluation system based on benchmarks like test scores and tie teachers jobs to it, then your educational system should be designed with benchmarks that children are used to meeting. You can't send messages to kids that classwork, homework, tests, etc don't matter and then expect them to take high stakes tests like the DCCAS seriously.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-85638878745671456432011-04-15T12:15:42.900-04:002011-04-15T12:15:42.900-04:00As a 10-year teaching veteran in DC, I'd just ...As a 10-year teaching veteran in DC, I'd just like to say that we should all be grateful for the Teach for America & DC Teaching Fellows that teach with us. These people are some of the most committed and passionate educators I've come across during my entire career!TFA & DCTFnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-25043064545204444492011-03-11T23:46:20.187-05:002011-03-11T23:46:20.187-05:00Although I've known for a yaer or two that som...Although I've known for a yaer or two that some one named Kaya Henderson was the deputy chancellor, the most I've seen of her was in the DCPS Oversight Hearing yesterday. There were somethings I liked and some I didn't.<br />The video in this post has shown a whole different side of her and I definitely do not like the message she seemed to be sending that 20 years ago a revolution in teaching started and after a "bloody battle" at DCPS, she is now in a position to advance it. Her statements that TFA Alum are in the DCPS leadership, in the Deputy Mayor's office, in the OSSE-everywhere significant decisions are being made and her call "come and work for me" just came across to me as a statement of triumph that 'we have conquered DCPS and it is ours and yours.'<br />It is NOT! DCPS is the public school district of the people of this city--not a place for ANY group to swarm in and take over and turn it into the reality of their "dream."<br />That, to me, is not about helping children to learn; it is about, in essence, telling the public education system and everybody in it before 20 years ago that 'it and they are done and now it's all going to be our way.'<br />I too am deeply disappointed that Gray did not, especially since he has repeatedly said education is his highest priority, do a broader search. I am becoming more and more convinced that while education may be his highest priority, it is not in the sense of making DCPS the best learning place it can be, but making it into some kind of showplace and "model" for a bunch of ideas with almost no connection to learning.Sarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-6773957558269988592011-03-09T16:51:46.937-05:002011-03-09T16:51:46.937-05:00So much for a change in government. The Chancellor...So much for a change in government. The Chancellor search, the hiring of aide's children and the S. Brown situation. Nothing has changed. Can't tell you how disappointed I am in the new regime. Nothing has changed in DCPS except the cuts to 30 schools and Ms Henderson being placed in charge. Arghhhhh!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-89565177801750925582011-03-09T15:14:53.930-05:002011-03-09T15:14:53.930-05:00Candi,
Can you verify the DINR, if you quit DCPS...Candi, <br /><br />Can you verify the DINR, if you quit DCPS after April or don't come back the next school year will DCP fine you $1000? That is what most staff are saying at my school, I don't see how this is legal. Can you clarify just this information about the "penalty" please. As you know many of us are trying to get out of DCPS but we won't have an answer by April.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-52089704639062731482011-03-08T19:22:39.030-05:002011-03-08T19:22:39.030-05:00Payback is a witch! If anyone thinks that a five w...Payback is a witch! If anyone thinks that a five week speed course on educational practices equals a four-five year course of studies on educational theories and best practices in education, then they are a complete fool. All the public has to do is just wait, time will tell if TFA teachers are better than traditional degreed teachers. Kaya Henderson is so full of bunk and totally unqualified for the job, that my tax dollars help to pay. The United States is on its way straight to the bottom, and China will be the best educated nation in the world.Five To Gonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-14020736320150959842011-03-08T18:33:16.672-05:002011-03-08T18:33:16.672-05:00Linda/Retired Teacher:
I agree with you that plac...Linda/Retired Teacher:<br /><br />I agree with you that placing the least experienced teachers in classrooms with the neediest students is a poor practice. It does those children who need help the most a great disservice. On the one hand, I do think TFA's mission is a good one, and I also know that thousands of people have made education their careers -- staying in the poorest neighborhoods -- who otherwise might have gone into finance or law. On the other hand, I believe that in an ideal world TFA wouldn't be able to place teachers because there would be too many high-quality experienced teachers clamoring to work in our poorest neighborhoods. <br /><br />I just want to reiterate that the people Henderson was speaking to in this video are not new recruits; they are TFA alums. They have taught for at least two years and are fully certified. She should not be criticized for wanting those people. Criticize her for hiring too many <i>new</i>TFA recruits, but not for this. <br /><br />Also, it is 100% false that Maryland does not hire TFA teachers. Baltimore City and Prince George's County hire several hundred TFA corps members each year.SE Teachernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-60826476289198061202011-03-08T08:37:58.915-05:002011-03-08T08:37:58.915-05:00Greetings! This has confirmed what I have said to ...Greetings! This has confirmed what I have said to many of my colleagues about Ms. Henderson. She has got to go. She is just carrying on what Ms Rhee started, so even though Ms Rhee is no longer with DCPS, her policies are still being enforced on DC teachers. <br /> <br />At this point I think it's the Mayor who needs to be pressured to conduct a nationwide search for someone with, not only a PhD. in leadership but also someone knowledgeable in what Education is about, who has taught at different levels or has extensive knowledge of K-12 education. The teachers were behind Gray for mayor but it seems as though he has forgotten that. How can I send an email to the Mayor?Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-82601767619052518782011-03-07T21:36:35.491-05:002011-03-07T21:36:35.491-05:00For many, many years young people without full cre...For many, many years young people without full credentials or experience have been hired for "inner-city" positions. While working in these schools, these new teachers earn their master's degrees, gain experience and often have their student loans "forgiven" by the federal government. I should know as I was one of these recruits in 1966. I still cringe when I think of the mistakes that I made in those early years. After gaining experience in the classrooms of poor kids, these new teachers often go on to "better" jobs in the suburbs.<br /><br />Placing the least experienced teachers in urban classrooms is still being done today, only now it is called Teach for America. <br /><br />If a TFA has a master's degree and experience, then Ms. Henderson should consider this person for a position in D.C. Why not? However, if most of the inexperienced, minimally credentialed recruits are sent to the poorest schools in D.C. teachers and parents need to let the public know that this is happening. Bill Turque or Valerie Strauss might find it an interesting topic for their articles and blogs. Is it true that high-achieving Maryland does not employ Teach for America? Why?<br /><br />Nothing has hurt poor kids more than the unconscionable tradition of placing the least experienced teachers in the most challenging schools. This is a practice that should stop today. Ms. Henderson has pledged to "put children first." Let's see if she will put them before her friends in Teach for America.Linda/RetiredTeacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01613269510654597179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-27773387328308900532011-03-07T21:25:46.083-05:002011-03-07T21:25:46.083-05:00I find it interesting that Kaya has found the time...I find it interesting that Kaya has found the time to address the TFAers but has not made the effort to speak to the rest of us. It might be important for the people who are doing the work to know what else is coming down on us!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-80049491646476674482011-03-07T19:47:40.091-05:002011-03-07T19:47:40.091-05:00Person at 4:21 PM -- Why insist that there is &qu...Person at 4:21 PM -- Why insist that there is "profit"? This is an IRS-approved nonprofit. "Profits" don't "go to corporate" or anywhere else; any "profit" has to be plowed back into the business.<br /><br />TFA is not making a "profit" for anyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-36223000072424546472011-03-07T19:42:28.809-05:002011-03-07T19:42:28.809-05:00Barbara,
We do not "all know this." Wh...Barbara,<br /><br />We do not "all know this." What you've written is incorrect. <br />1.) TFA is not a corporation, it is a non-profit. <br />2.) New teachers are neither required nor encouraged to open schools. <br />3.) Most of the schools that TFA alums do open (KIPP is the most famous, but there are of course others) actually don't employ many TFA corps members. They do employ lots of alums -- people who no longer have anything to do with TFA's income.<br />4.) Baltimore City and Prince George's County employ several hundred TFA corps members. They are, last I checked, both in Maryland. <br /><br />If you're going to criticize (without source or citation) people of making up facts, it's best to not also be making up facts.SE Teachernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-81110856143598949922011-03-07T11:56:12.876-05:002011-03-07T11:56:12.876-05:00SE teacher at 322 has some tasty food for thought ...SE teacher at 322 has some tasty food for thought for her colleague in teaching, Efavorite. SE teacher spells out the value of TFAs, and clearly believes they are, on balance, a net positive educating resource.<br /><br />Mrs. Efavorite wonders about a school with few veterans. Good point, but I don't know if that happens in many schools because TFAs are something like 7 percent of the 4000-person plus teacher total. <br /><br />Recent Local 6 survey showed at least half of all teachers have 20-25 years of experience. That is laudable in many, but not all, respects. In such large numbers ordinary statistics suggests some have stopped growing and would not measure up well comparatively with others in their cohort. <br /><br />The point can be made that moving out less, or in the worst case, ineffective teachers for any less experienced teachers (who could arrive from a number of sources, e.g., other systems) would be better for the students. I know this is the kind of management decision that parents zero in on.<br /><br />What do you think (providing we can shield our eyes from standard AFT beliefs and practices)?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-63416453378369097202011-03-07T10:21:14.688-05:002011-03-07T10:21:14.688-05:00Hi Candi,
We all know TFA is a business venture ...Hi Candi,<br /> <br />We all know TFA is a business venture where unlicensed persons are hired cheap and the profits go to corporate. The way it works is similar to a Ponzi scam. New teachers are required or encouraged to open new schools to multiply the business. More profits for corporate. <br /> <br />The marketing regarding TFA's success is fraudulent and an out right contrivance of the facts. I suggest that the WTU go on an all out marketing campaign to publish the truth and the facts. <br /> <br />Did you know that Jay Mathews of the POST is on the TFA Board? I also heard that Maryland is somewhat successful in keeping TFA out of that state.Barbaranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-44570965059716598572011-03-07T09:32:40.886-05:002011-03-07T09:32:40.886-05:00efavorite,
You are correct -- the speech Henderso...efavorite,<br /><br />You are correct -- the speech Henderson made was at the 20th Anniversary TFA Summit. She was speaking to a crowd of 10,000 TFA alums. They also happen to be people with masters degrees and several years of teaching experience. <br /><br />During a TFA teacher's two year commitment, he or she must attend graduate courses in education to pursue certification. Every TFA region has a partnership school that offers these courses (in DC, TFAers take courses from American U if they are GenEd teachers and George Mason if they are Sped teachers). At the end of the two year commitment, TFA teachers are fully certified. Most elect to take the 2-3 courses beyond certification to get a masters degree (something like 90% choose this option). Certification is not optional for TFA teachers; they must prove to OSSE that they are pursuing certification through graduate study in order to be given provisional licenses. <br /><br />According to TFA, 63% of their alums are still working in education. Half of that 63% are still K-12 teachers, and a further fifth of them work in schools as counselors, administrators, coaches, literacy specialists, etc. A full report on alumni activity can be found here: http://www.teachforamerica.org/mission/documents/2009_ASIR_Final.pdf<br /><br />My point is that after completing the TFA commitment, TFA teachers are fully certified and most have masters degrees. They all have (at least) two years teaching experience in a high-poverty urban or rural school. Why shouldn't a school system want to recruit those people?SE Teachernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-60799623294296224412011-03-07T00:28:44.618-05:002011-03-07T00:28:44.618-05:00Frank, what did you write to Kaya that upset her?Frank, what did you write to Kaya that upset her?usereasonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-76347086357796478042011-03-06T21:14:09.947-05:002011-03-06T21:14:09.947-05:00"We need to be careful that we don't not ..."We need to be careful that we don't not short change our kids, at least as much as we need to follow procedures and fairness in evaluating and developing (or terminating) the teachers we have."<br /><br />I agree completely. That's why we can't support an ongoing turn-over of rookie teachers. everyone knows it takes a few years to hit your stride. What an insult to our needisest kids to have a constant turnover of rookies.Efavoritenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-71908116741910496002011-03-06T21:09:59.245-05:002011-03-06T21:09:59.245-05:00According to the WaPo 9:09 pm 03/0611, Ms. Henders...According to the WaPo 9:09 pm 03/0611, Ms. Henderson is the new Chancellor of DCPS, so we had better get used to her.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-88769700831214265842011-03-06T18:34:29.989-05:002011-03-06T18:34:29.989-05:00Interesting Anonymous at March 6, 2011 4:33 PM, yo...Interesting Anonymous at March 6, 2011 4:33 PM, you have no problem of TFA hiring their friends at all levels; in the classroom, at central office, at OSSE, and hey "on the way to the white house"!!! <br /><br />Check out your hypocrisy and don't tell me they're all qualified as some of them in the classroom have had only "5 weeks" training, and are placed in the toughest schools - and you're okay with that.<br /><br />Seniority shouldn't be the sole factor, but a school with no veterans is a school that will not and cannot survive, even if they have good test scores the first year it is unsustainable if most of the staff don't stay on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-77477933293051445462011-03-06T10:33:55.120-05:002011-03-06T10:33:55.120-05:00March 5 at 3:15 pm commenter:
Without using the t...March 5 at 3:15 pm commenter:<br /><br />Without using the term tenure and seniority, your view seems to be that if a teacher has been a "soldier" for years, she/he deserves to stay (no matter what? perhaps??). It is an understandable view, but not ncessarily the best for the students. What if a top-performing student with 8 years of experience could be hired from a Title I school in Phila, to replace a weak "soldier?"<br /><br />We need to be careful that we don't not short change our kids, at least as much as we need to follow procedures and fairness in evaluating and developing (or terminating) the teachers we have.<br /><br />After reading Page 1 of the Washington Post this morning, I am beginning to wonder how bad the rot in our newly elected government is--up to and including the Mayor's office. We have already seen what the new Council Chair thinks of the dupes like me who pay taxes, prays for good schools, and votes.<br /><br />May the Lord help us get through this night of mismanagement at all levels of DC government.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-89127736428026964722011-03-05T21:11:48.975-05:002011-03-05T21:11:48.975-05:00One of the things that principals love about TFA t...One of the things that principals love about TFA teachers is that they have been taught to focus on nothing but DCCAS prep. The TFAers at my school make all of their homework constructed response, and treat it like the DCCAS, to the point where they will not allow another sheet of paper, because the student won't have it on the test.<br /><br />Given that, you can see that principals that want test prep to the exception of everything else would love TFA folks who have been trained that way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-376956712327229512011-03-04T22:05:40.201-05:002011-03-04T22:05:40.201-05:00Interestingly enough, Kevin Huffman, Michelle Rhee...Interestingly enough, Kevin Huffman, Michelle Rhee's ex husband, father of her two daughters, and TFAer was just named as the Education Coordinator in Tennessee. Seems like TFA is the way to go if you want to get a power position in the field of Education.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7097158142844550473.post-46992520772884242202011-03-04T21:13:15.408-05:002011-03-04T21:13:15.408-05:00It is clear that people are not looking at the big...It is clear that people are not looking at the big picture. I am not hating on TFA teachers, however they are not as qualified as the veteran teachers in our schools. They are treated differently and their word is golden to principals. I have seen this first hand in our schools. These are teachers that are recruited into our schools. I was on the personnel committee at my school and 90% of all applicants were TFA and 100% of those applicants were hired. At my school ALL of the new teachers are TFA. So of course those of us that are not TFA feel discriminated against. I am not making a personal judgment against those people. I am not mad that these people for deciding to go into a program that helps them pay off student loans. What I am upset with is that they are considered the saviors of our children totally disregarding the soliders that have been on the front lines for many years.Classicnoreply@blogger.com