Is Teach for America experience a help or hindrance in Atlanta... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

Is Teach for America experience a help or hindrance in Atlanta... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com:

Is Teach for America experience a help or hindrance in Atlanta school board race?  

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Count 'em folks: 27 people running for school board in Atlanta.

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By Maureen Downey

  The Atlanta school board race is getting some national attention because four candidates are veterans of Teach for America. Their TFA’s stints are raising concerns among those who question the motives and modus operandi of the national organization, which puts bright college grads into the classroom after boot camp-like training.

Critics contend that TFA has a larger goal than recruiting smart college grads to teach in poor schools for two years. (See story in the Atlanta Progressive News in which critics voice concerns that the influence of TFA on the privatization of public education.)  

The four candidates are District 7 incumbent Courtney English who is seeking re-election and unopposed District 3 candidate Matt Westmoreland who will replace Cecily Harsch-Kinnane.  

Eshe Collins is running for the District 6 seat held now by Yolanda Johnson. Jason Esteves is seeking Emmett Johnson’s District 9 seat.  

Writing on her blog about the TFA candidates in Atlanta, education historian Diane Ravitch said this week, “This seems to be the TFA long-term plan, as Wendy Kopp has often stated: to build a cadre of leaders with a strong network of funders across the nation. We know what this