Teach For America’s paradoxical diversity initiative: Race, policy, and Black teacher displacement in urban schools

Abstract

This article examines the paradox of Teach For America's diversity gains and its support for policies that contribute to Black teacher decline in urban communities. TFA has countered claims that its expansion is connected to teacher displacement, but its two-pronged structure-as an alternative certification program and an influential policy actor via its leadership model for education reform-requires a critical analysis of the impact of its policy commitments on Black teachers. I propose steps to better align TFA's policy orientations with its diversity values by leveraging TFA's policy influence to support better working conditions for teachers in urban schools, democratic school turnarounds, and teacher organizing linked to broad social justice movements. Keywords: diversity; Black teachers; displacement; turnover; Teach For America, teachers of color Education Policy Analysis Archives, Vol. 24 No.16 2 Teach For America y su paradójica iniciativa sobre la diversidad: Raza, política, y el Desplazamiento de docentes negros en las escuelas urbanas Resumen: En este artículo se examina las paradójicas mejoras de Teach For America en el área de diversidad en Estados Unidos y su apoyo a las políticas que contribuyeron a la disminución de los docentes negros en las comunidades urbanas. TFA ha negado las afirmaciones de que su expansión se conecto con el desplazamiento de esos docentes, pero su estructura dual-como un programa de certificación alternativa y como actor político influyente a través de su modelo de liderazgo para reformas educativas-requiere un análisis crítico de la repercusión de sus compromisos políticos en docentes negros. Propongo un modelo para entender mejor las orientaciones políticas de TFA y sus valores sobre diversidad mediante el análisis de la influencia política de TFA y su apoyo para mejorar condiciones de trabajo de los maestros de escuelas urbanas, proyectos de mejoras de escuelas, y la organización docente vinculados a movimientos que reclamas una justicia social amplia. Palabras clave: diversidad; docentes negros; desplazamiento; volumen de negocios; Teach For America, Profesores de minorías étnico-raciales Teach for America e sua paradoxal iniciativa sobre diversidade: Raça, política, e o deslocamento de professores negros nas escolas urbanas Resumo: Este artigo descreve e é examina as paradoxais melhorias de Teach For America na área de diversidade nos Estados Unidos e seu apoio às políticas que contribuíram para o declínio de professores negros em comunidades urbanas. TFA nega alegações de que sua expansão foi relacionados com o deslocamento desses professores, mas a sua estrutura dual-como programa de certificação alternativa e como um ator político influente através do seu modelo de liderança para a reforma educativas-exige uma análise crítica do impacto dos compromissos políticos de TFA sobre os professores negros. Proponho um modelo para entender melhor as orientações políticas de TFA e os valores sobre noção de diversidade, analisando a influência política do TFA e ...

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