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Sunday, December 29, 2013

Tell-All From A TFA and KIPP Teacher: Unprepared, Isolation, Shame, and Burnout | Cloaking Inequity

Tell-All From A TFA and KIPP Teacher: Unprepared, Isolation, Shame, and Burnout | Cloaking Inequity:

Tell-All From A TFA and KIPP Teacher: Unprepared, Isolation, Shame, and Burnout

shame
A few years ago a UT-Austin undergraduate student sat in my office and told me that she was joining Teach For America and was going to teach in KIPP school. The essence of TFA’s pitch to her?
We recruit a diverse group of leaders with a record of achievement who work to expand educational opportunity, starting by teaching for two years in a low-income community.
In 2013, The University of Texas at Austin sent more of our graduates to Teach For America than any other university. We’re #1!?! How can you not feel good about Teach For America after watching this expensive and very professional YouTube promotion video? (Happy Holidays!! btw)
Also, how can you not fall in love Teach For America when discussing their beliefs with their very intelligent and loquacious staff and lobbyist (Factoid: Did you know TFA has embedded paid ed policy staffers in the U.S. congress?).
A few weeks ago, after I spoke on a panel at the The National Hispanic Caucus of Hispanic State Legislators