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Thursday, March 22, 2012

Final words on Teach for America, Inc., well…not really | Seattle Education

Final words on Teach for America, Inc., well…not really | Seattle Education:


Final words on Teach for America, Inc., well…not really

The Seattle School Board voted last night 4 to 3 to continue the contract with Teach for America. Unfortunately, I believe that this sends a message to our well qualified and talented teachers that anyone can take their place and that’s OK. At least that’s what four citizens in Seattle have decided.
Three of the four votes were by previous members of the “gang of four” who could be relied upon to vote in unison with our Broad trained superintendent, Dr. Goodloe-Johnson, so it was not a surprise that they would continue to vote in that same vein.  The fourth board member, Kay Smith-Blum, continually spoke of her “Principal poll” where she apparently asked a certain number of principals if they would hire a TFA, Inc. temp. Our first question to Ms. Smith-Blum was why not ask the parents? It would be our children most directly affected. And as most people involved with a public school system know, principals come under the scrutiny of the superintendent and