NEA Nixes TFA, Inc.
One of our very own teachers in Seattle, Marianne Bratsanos, brought forth an item regarding the hiring of Teach for America, Inc. recruits which was approved by the delegates at the National Education Association (NEA) Convention in Chicago last week.
Here in Seattle 70 teachers received pink slips this spring in response to budget cuts. In the meantime, Tom Stritikus, a former TFA, Inc. recruit and now Dean of the School of Education at the University of Washington, is gearing up to crank out Teach for America recruits to plug into a school district that is not lacking in qualified teachers. The unholy agreement between our former Broad-trained superintendent, Dr. Goodloe-Johnson, with the Seattle school board’s blessings, and Teach for America is to hire 25 recruits this fall at the additional expense of $4,000 per year. This additional fee goes directly to TFA, Inc.
Does this make any kind of economic sense? Does this at all address the best interests and needs of our students?
The teachers who comprise the membership of the NEA don’t think so along with the majority of parents who I have communicated with about this issue.
Will our interim superintendent, Dr. Susan Enfield, continue the charge towards dumbing down our children’s