Teach For America (TFA) Impact on Non-TFA Teachers in TFA-Hiring Schools

• In Event: Supporting Pre- and In-Service Educators

Abstract

With this presentation, we present findings from eight interviews with non-TFA teachers teaching in traditional public schools that hire TFA corps members (CMs). We begin with an overview of the context in which this research exists, after which we explore the existing literature drawing heavily on Thomas (2018), who discusses the ways in which TFA CMs embody alternative licensure pathways generally and TFA specifically. Next we describe our methodology, which we label an instrumental case study. We then present our findings, focusing primarily on teacher attrition as an overwhelmingly identified barrier across interviews. To conclude, we discuss the significance of the research as a whole at both individual and institutional levels.

Authors

• Ashlee Anderson, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

• T. Jameson Brewer, University of North Georgia

• Matthew A.M. Thomas, The University of Sydney