Teach for America Counter-narratives ― Alumni Speak Up and Speak Out

Active members, recent alumni, and members who quit before finishing their two-year training describe their experiences and observations of the Teach For America alternative teacher certifying program. They look at the organization's recruitment, training, and support structure; its approach to diversity; and its approach to criticism and critics. Among the topics are the eight-year impact of eight months with Teach For America; Teach For America, neoliberalism, and the effect on special education; Teach For America, colonizing perspectives, and a personal evolution; one Chicagoan's experience with Teach For America and Chicago public schools; and challenging the singularity of Teach For America's "echo chamber." Some of the contributors use pseudonyms to avoid retribution by Teach For American or its corporate sponsors. Annotation c2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

T. Jameson Brewer is an advanced PhD student of educational policy studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned a M.S. in social foundations of education from Georgia State University and a B.S.Ed. in secondary education from Valdosta State University. His research focuses on the impact(s) of privatization/marketization of public schools by way of charters, vouchers, and Teach For America.
Kathleen deMarrais is Professor of Qualitative Research Methodologies in the Department of Lifelong Education, Administration, and Policy at the University of Georgia. Her current research tracks the network of philanthropic funding for educational non-profits and its impact on educational policy in the U.S.