DPS ices relationship with Teach For America
Aug. 30, 2014 @ 05:51 PM
DURHAM —
The Durham school district will honor its current contract with Teach For America, but the national teacher training program’s future with Durham Public Schools is up in the air.
The school board voted 6-1 last week to honor its commitment to TFA teachers, including five hired to work for DPS this school year, but to not pursue any new relationships with the program beyond the 2015-16 school year.
That’s when the five TFA teachers hired for this school year will complete their service obligation with the program.
Seven other TFA teachers have begun their second years with DPS and will complete their two-year obligation with the program at the end of this school year.
Among concerns voiced by school board members who voted not to pursue any new relationships with TFA is the program’s use of inexperienced teachers in high-needs schools.
“It feels like despite the best intention and the efforts, this has potential to do harm to some of our neediest students,” said school board member Natalie Beyer, who voted against the school district’s contract with TFA three years ago.
Others said they were concerned that TFA teachers only make a two-year commitment.
“I have a problem with the two years and gone, using it like community service as someone said,” said school board member Mike Lee.
School board Chairwoman Minnie Forte-Brown was the only member to vote in favor of the district’s continuing its relationship with TFA.
She agreed that school districts need teachers who are willing to make long-term commitments, but only if they are doing a good job in the classroom.
“Having tenure, just being there because you’re there and not dong what you should be doing, committed to every child, every day, having high expectations for every child, every day, if you’re not doing that, it doesn’t matter if you’ve become a veteran in the classroom,” said Forte-Brown. “I need a veteran, qualified teacher in every classroom.”
The discussion about the school district’s relationship with TFA came as the board prepared to consider a new three-year contract with the organization.
Under the terms of the contract, TFA would recruit up to 10 teachers for the school district each year at a charge of $3,000 a teacher.
Nearly a dozen people signed up to speak in favor of and against the school district’s continuing its relationship with TFA during the board’s monthly meeting.
Board members said they also received numerous phone calls and emails before meeting.
One a speakers, Robyn Fehrman, executive director for Teach For America of Eastern North Carolina, said the data showing TFA’s positive impact in high-needs schools are undeniable.
“UNC Chapel Hill has found time and time again that Teach For America is North Carolina’s source for our DPS ices relationship with Teach For America | The Herald-Sun: