In his State of the State address, Governor Tomblin talked about the difficulty West Virginia has finding qualified public school teachers, especially in math, science and foreign languages.
In fact, it’s estimated that this year as many as 600 classes have teachers who are not certified to teach that particular subject.
The Teach For America (TFA) program could help fill some of those vacancies.
TFA is a national, non-profit organization that recruits top college graduates (often from elite schools) and professionals to teach in urban and rural schools. Corp members, who do not have teaching degrees, go through an intensive five-week training course to prepare them for the classroom where they will spend two years.
The program, which has been in existence for 22 years, has 10,000 members teaching in 46 regions of the country.
Tomblin will likely include the Teach for America program in his education reform bill. However, he may have left that out of his State of the State speech because it’s going to be controversial.
The two teacher unions in the state, the West Virginia Education Association and the West Virginia chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, are dead set against allowing TFA in here.
They worry the TFA corps members fall far short of the classroom management skills necessary to be an effective teacher. Additionally, one teacher union leader told me it’s demeaning to have a recent college graduate dally in teaching until they find a job in their field.
The research on the effectiveness of TFA is mixed.
A 2010 study by the University of North Carolina found TFA instructors outperformed teachers traditionally prepared by UNC in five out of nine comparisons. In the other four, there was no difference.
However, a review by the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice found that the evidence was less conclusive.
TFA teachers hold their own compared with teachers in the same schools who are less likely to be certified. However, “studies indicate that the students of novice TFA teachers perform significantly less well in reading and mathematics than those of credentialed beginning teachers.”
The bottom line, according to the Great Lakes Center report, is “that TFA is likely not the panacea that will reduce disparities in educational outcomes.”
Interestingly, Will Nash, TFA’s executive director for the Appalachian Region, agrees with that assessment.
“TFA doesn’t think we’re a silver bullet,” Nash told me on Metronews Talkine Friday. But he does believe his organization can be part of the solution to the shortage of qualified teachers.
For example, when I asked Nash if TFA could produce a physics teacher for a southern West Virginia County, he said “chances are very, very good that we can.”
Now we’re getting somewhere.
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Comments
Woodchuck
The teachers union trying something new? They would sue the first school to use TFA.
The union only wants more money. They can't handle any responsibility for outcome.
I thought it was up to the union to fill the jobs in all locations? They are the answer for all problems, just ask them.
Anybody else out there who can fail at your job and still have a job? When does the best person and worst person in a business get paid the same? Why is it wrong to pay for performance? Is it about the kids?
Why don't some of the teachers speak up and demand change? Oh yea that's against union policy. You will be fired for such action. Who would want to be associated with a socialist organization that thinks everyone is equal in their ability to teach?
When it's the public demanding improvements for the tax money we pay, change is slow to nothing.
February 18, 2013 at 6:17 am | Report comment
John
Great post!
February 18, 2013 at 11:35 am | Report comment
mntnman
you know little of what you speak
February 18, 2013 at 4:02 pm | Report comment
concerned teacher
While I am trying to get back to WV to teach they will be hiring yet MORE people without qualifications to teach.
The quickest way for TFA to be accepted is to have them all coach - that way they do NOT have to be qualified or experienced. Just coach and show game videos in class. Yes, the dumbing down of America continues!
February 18, 2013 at 6:27 am | Report comment
Medman
The Legislature will ding around with education reform for the next 60 days and very little real change will occur because the system is controlled by the unions and they are not going to permit anything that resembles accountability for their members. Then, everyone will run around wringing their hands and scratching their heads wondering why the WV economy is tanking and why businesses will not come to the State.
February 18, 2013 at 7:04 am | Report comment
Mint man
You are wrong. Watch what happens.
February 18, 2013 at 10:32 am | Report comment
CaptainQ
Care to elaborate or is this simply a statement of wishful thinking?
February 18, 2013 at 1:41 pm | Report comment
mntnman
Having participated in numerous meetings, nearly weekly, over the past two months with members of the house, senate, the Department of Education and governors office, change is coming. It is coming. Not everyone agrees with the fixes, but everyone agrees fixes are needed.
The first change will be with the calendar -- to give local counties more flexibility in setting their calendars - possibly for year round schooling. The mantra of change is now local flexibility -- giving local boards empowerment to design, implement and bring about change. So expect to see more broad goals being set at the state level and letting local school systems design the ways to get there.
The subsequent changes will relate to accountability (of which no one is afraid so long as it measures outcomes and achievement, and not merely test scores.) Other changes that are very important relate to RESA and other non-sexy policies that impede innovation and improvement.
I am very optimistic that change is coming. With the teachers associations participating positively. For those who like to pound on teachers and constantly rag on them -- I got news for you -- they are the secret to our future success.
So Q, its not just wishful thinking -- its actually seeing people who are serious about getting things done -- and for you negative nancys, that includes the teachers associations.
February 18, 2013 at 4:12 pm | Report comment
CaptainQ
Like the young people say today, Medman:
+1
(I think I did that right, didn't I?)
February 18, 2013 at 1:42 pm | Report comment
thornton
Sounds as if it is a good program, well-thought and based upon trying to help kids succeed..
"Demeaning"?.....it is all about the teachers and unions and ego and dues, eh?
More sad that.
Hey.....Jorea Marple is out of a job, send her an application.
February 18, 2013 at 8:10 am | Report comment
Wvu999
I didnt realize the teacher unions were so strong. According to you'll they run everything.
There was a time when teachers were respected and revered and now because of right wing nuts that is no longer the case.
If you want to know the real problem in education it starts at home. Too many people think they know everything there is to know about teaching when they don't know a thing.
I used my ATM yesterday so now I know how to fix the banks, I had a doctor's appt last week I can fix the healthcare industry, the examples can go on.
If you really want to know why teachers are having so many problems then look in the mirror. It used to be the pay was low but the respect was high. Now the pay and the respect are in the basement. It's because of people like you why education is suffering.
Why don't you let the experts teach and you right wing nut jobs who want less government and government control get the hell out of government and quit trying to control everything.
If you had any idea of how the system of hiring and firing teachers really worked you would feel as stupid as you look. I'm sure not a single one of you know 18A in the law book.
February 18, 2013 at 8:11 am | Report comment
DWM
Hop,
It seems simple, if what you are doing is not working, you try something else that has been tried with some success. Frankly, teacher unions are not the solution of the problem, they are part of the problem. Why should we care what they think? ... Oh forgot, they elect the politicians, my bad.
February 18, 2013 at 9:12 am | Report comment
Don Jr.
Usually, when there is a sinking ship the captain of the vessel made some sort of error that has led to the catastrophe. Hence, the tradition of the "captain goes down with the ship". It seems that the fashionable response these days is to blame the crew even though the "crew" has less and less input and influence over the decisions of the captain. Personally, I blame the high paid administration of our school systems for the educational shorfalls more so than the teachers or unions. The key to running a successful organization, in my opinion, is to hire the best people up front in the beginning and then to support and work with those employees throughout the rest of their careers. I feel that most personnel departments can live up to their end of the bargin. It's what happens afterward that seems to be the problem, there becomes an adversarial relationship after the hire. The administrators have to blame someone for the failures and the problem cannot be with their plan, it must be with the workers below, that is causing the problem. I'm afraid that I'd have to have more specifics from the administrator before falling for that line. Things like, what part of your plan are the workers failing to comply with and would have caused better results, please be specific?
No, the answer to the school system problems is not to bring in more of the elitist who will teach our children things that are not even correct, much less useful in keeping America free.
February 18, 2013 at 10:22 am | Report comment
SHADOW
One of my favorite Uncle's told me there was only way to spoil a rotten egg. So anything you do on this education system can't hurt anyone, and, most likely, a lot of children will be helped. To say the TFA personell haven't been trained to teach is not realistic, They have seen 16+ years of good and bad teachers and have learned something from that. How many of the BOE members have studied teaching techniques, testing, child development,etc. Probably very few and they try to run the system.
February 18, 2013 at 7:34 pm | Report comment
wirerowe
No one is blaming the crew and you know it. . Maybe West Virginia should sit down with the teachers ask for their imput and offer them a raise if they would decerify the unions.
February 18, 2013 at 10:30 am | Report comment
Don Jr.
Union bashing is not the answer. Not saying unions are perfect or should always get their way, but the union represents the membership which is the teachers themselves. I can tell you that this group wants to get the education of our children correct as much as any group beyond, of course, the parents.
February 18, 2013 at 10:49 am | Report comment
John
Union butt kissing is not the answer either! More money, more money, more money, yet we are still 48th in the country in education...
February 18, 2013 at 11:39 am | Report comment
John
They are given a raise yearly! Yet there are no increases in educational scores, and we are still ranked 48th in the country. Do not know about you, but normally if you pay for something and do not get what you paid for, you normally get a return!
February 18, 2013 at 11:43 am | Report comment
Wowbagger
Hoppy,
I wish TFA good luck. They will need it.
I have known two professionals who came back to West Virginia after years of successful employment outside of the state. One was an Engineer and one was a Phd level scientist. Both were educated in the public school system before the Recht decision began the race to the bottom. One of these guys even completed a Masters in Education before seeking a teaching job. Both quit after experiencing the bureaucracy that is the public school system today and push to manipulate grades to achieve social ends. (ie: Johnny will never need to understand higher math to work in his dad's garage, funeral home, or whatever. Since he will never amount to much anyway just give him a passing grade and move him on.)
Both of these guys became successful after their brush with what is now a truly inferior school system. One became a successful consultant in his field and one became quite successful in business. I contend that they were not the problem, the current system is the problem.
I can see only one way out of this mess, vouchers and development of a private or non-traditional school system to generate competition.
Some of this could occur on-line, perhaps originating in higher education and funded by voucher payments if only broadband could really be deployed in an efficient manner.
I fully realize that none of this will happen given the power teacher's unions that love the status quo except for the salaries, but it could work if someone would truly begin thinking outside of the box, unencumbered by the current tired, old system.
February 18, 2013 at 10:31 am | Report comment
Don Jr.
I can see an advantage to your idea of vouchers and competition among schools. This would work as far as obtaining a better education for some children, which is good.
What should be our response to the one's who are not able to attend one of the better schools due to financial or access reasons?
I'm not trying to derail the idea, just trying to find a way to make it work within the spirit of equity and fairness. I understand that some children will out perform others and this should be allowed and encouraged, but shouldn't the playing field be as level as we can make it at the start of the race?
February 18, 2013 at 11:01 am | Report comment
Wowbagger
I gave this some thought and that is how I came up with the on-line component in areas like math and the sciences, perhaps spearheaded from West Virginia's higher education system. This demands good broadband statewide, but assuming that it is possible. It might even cut overall costs and promote broadband deployment!. At the same time it is not likely to be embraced as it would render a big part of the education establishment irrelevant.
My background is in a physical science and a field that is generally classified as a social science. Both are somewhat specialized in that not all universities offer even undergraduate programs. I don't need another masters degree, but I regularly get promotional material on non-traditional masters programs in both fields. I don't recall all of the schools now offering these graduate degrees, but Penn State seems to be on the forefront and I think WVU offers some on-line learning courses, so distance learning expertise is not too far away.
February 18, 2013 at 2:41 pm | Report comment
John
As long as there are teachers unions, our children will suffer. The only thing those unions care about it is money. Same with majority of teachers, that and having summers off every year.
February 18, 2013 at 11:37 am | Report comment
mntnman
Lets see how to respond intelligently -- A bunch of bull!
February 18, 2013 at 4:13 pm | Report comment
Robert
West Virginia teachers do not really have a union, it's more of an association. What's the difference you might ask? Unions have the right to collective bargaining, there are no such rights granted to teachers in West Virginia. The WVEA and NAFT serve more as political lobbying groups. It seems to me that part of the educational problem in WV can be found on message boards such as this one...there seems to be a serious lack of respect for teachers and the jobs they do. I would guess that this negativity is indoctrinated directly to your children around the nightly dinner table,That would seem to account for the disrespect shown by students towards teachers daily in the classroom
As for today's topic, I don't know if bringing in TFA is a good or bad idea. The question I would ask is why would anybody want to come to West Virginia and subject themselves to such unending criticism and disrespect.
February 18, 2013 at 12:01 pm | Report comment
wirerowe
Robert They are unions and seniority is the most important consideration for hiring teachers Those are the facts. I appreciate your effort and those of others to attempt to confuse and obfuscate one or both of these two facts.The truth would set you free. Teachers are the solution.They have a very difficult if not impossible task in today's schools. They are not being well led and represented by their union leaders who fight every single new idea that could possibly improve our schools before someone can stand up and explain the idea.
Unions have two responses to progressive ideas no and hell no.
February 18, 2013 at 3:58 pm | Report comment
mntnman
You are wrong on seniority. We hire in Mercer County schools routinely -- and seniority is only one factor. Where do you get your info? The Internet? You may think if you keep saying it that it will be true; but it isn't.
As for the union issue, they do not object to every idea -- they have proposed many. The problem as I see it up close and personal every day is that far too many people think they know what the problem with public education is and how to fix it -- and once they speak you know they are clueless. Harsh to be certain, but true. The audit actually had good things to say about our teachers.
There are so many ideas floating around that do not deal with achievement and outcomes, but are instead ideological window dressing designed to attack teachers and their associations. (BTW, they cannot lawfully strike -- so they are NOT a union. They are a strong association, but the fundamental inability to strike makes their ability to collectively bargain limited. They seek change through legislation -- something all citizens can do.)
Change is in the wind. It will come. Constantly bashing teachers and their associations serves no purpose and is counterproductive. They do much good, and whether you agree or not, are underpaid compared to people who live in surrounding states oftentimes just a few miles from where our teachers live. I know, I live in a border county and we lose teachers too often to better pay just down the road.
February 18, 2013 at 4:24 pm | Report comment
wirerowe
Explain to me why it it necessary for the Governor to have legislation to make sure that county boards hire the Most qualifed if seniority is not the currently the main consideration,
February 19, 2013 at 6:18 am | Report comment
wirerowe
Mntman, the teacher unions struck when Gaston Caperton was Governor. I remember as a taxpayer and a voter the people that were there to educate my daughter were wearing their little colored shirts and hollering at me and my daughter when we drove up to school. Since then a couple of times at least the unions have threatened to strike. I feel strongly that they haven't struck since then not because it is prohibited but because they felt they could not get by with it. Please also tell me one progressive thing that they have been receptive to: hiring the most qualified teacher, paying math and science teacher more, merit pay, charter schools, TFA, or accountability
February 19, 2013 at 6:58 am | Report comment
mntnman
Lets see -- striking was illegal, and many did NOT participate. In any event, they have proposed accountability, using the test results more intelligently, loan forgiveness to attack new teachers to areas of need. Merit pay -- worthless and little data indicates it impacts achievement and outcomes; the rose if off charter schools -- they only take the best and brightest -- easy way to do well, paying other teachers more to do the same job is, well, stupid. Anything else?
February 19, 2013 at 9:18 am |
SHADOW
My teacher friend told me that one of the big reasons she joined the association was that it provided legal protection if she was sued. With the legal system being what it is, more lawyers than required, and their tort laws, it seems like a very good idea to associate.
February 20, 2013 at 9:21 am | Report comment
CaptainQ
At this point, Hoppy, WV has to try SOMETHING to improve the quality of public education in this state. Why not give TFA a chance? Of course, the leadership of the two teacher's unions (WVEA, WVFT) will fight this like a pit bull fighting over a bone, but that's to be expected.
The union leader's answer to better education is giving teachers more money and that's it. Anything MORE that this and the teacher unions will cry bloody murder! As we have seen in the past, simply throwing money at an issue NEVER EVER solves it.
Others here have already said this, so I will add to the chorus: NOTHING WILL HAPPEN with education in the state legislature this year. Governor Tomblin can talk a 'big game' but when push comes to shove, the WVEA/WVFT 'voting block' in Charleston will effectively kill ANY bill that even attempts to alter the public school system at all.
February 18, 2013 at 1:32 pm | Report comment
mntnman
You are so-o-o- wrong. Change is coming. Now. Don't believe me, then wait about 2 months. I have seen the change before my eyes -- it is serious and thoughtful and it will happen. Now. Wait and see.
As for your comments about money, I can tell you if my county had about 3-5 million more right now we could solve a lot of county school problems. That's the fact, jack. We are losing several outstanding programs we have implemented, that directly impact achievement, due to lack of funding. We are squeezing our budget to try and maintain but we are losing ground. More money, used correctly, can matter.
So no, you don't throw money at the problem -- but if you use it correctly, it matters. Of course, that's also just my opinion. But that's real world talking, not theory. That's real experience talking, not what I read on the internet. So take it for what its worth.
February 18, 2013 at 4:32 pm | Report comment
CaptainQ
Change? Out of OUR WV legislature? That's like asking the Mona Lisa to smile! Just look at how long it took for Charleston to pass a law allowing for the changing of starting and ending dates for county school calendars! You underestimate the power that the WVEA/WVFT voting block has at the state capitol. Change is one thing our State Government does NOT do well.
And as for added money to retain teachers, let me put it this way. Anybody who is only into teaching for the money will NEVER stay in WV, even with a huge pay raise. Neighboring states will always pay their teachers more, so retention remains a future challenge for the Mountain State.
And something I CAN tell you from my own experience, increased pay does NOT mean increased PERFORMANCE in the classroom. That's a lie the leaders of the WVEA/WVFT want everyone to believe.
February 18, 2013 at 4:56 pm | Report comment
Mntnman
You sir have no idea of what you speak. Teachers love being in wv. To many it is home. We just need to pay them more. When the change comes I'll remind you of your diatribe.
February 18, 2013 at 10:30 pm | Report comment
Mntnman
Are you a teacher or administrator? If not from what experience do you speak? As for increased pay, believe what you will but I have personally seen the loss of dozens of caring highly qualified teachers to Virginia because of pay. Thats real world experience here in southern WV. Just sayin.
February 18, 2013 at 10:38 pm | Report comment
Hop'sHip
mntnman: Thanks for your effort here. Unfortunately you seem to be a rose amongst a bunch of thorns.
February 18, 2013 at 8:24 pm | Report comment
Mntnman
; )
February 18, 2013 at 10:32 pm | Report comment
stophating
I'll sum up my thoughts on TFA-- WV has a similar program in place (with higher standards), and that program regularly and routinely fails. In the county I live in, one of these "non-teachers" was employed and it took her less than two months to be having sex with students and providing drugs to them. This profession requires a great bit of sacrifice and dedication, and I doubt that type of long term success can come from five weeks of training.
February 18, 2013 at 5:01 pm | Report comment
thornton
I would suggest you consider not throwing that particular stone....sacrifice and dedication have not always proven to be an unbreachable dam re a teacher.
Now, go back to grading the homework.
February 18, 2013 at 6:52 pm | Report comment
Linda
It isn't the unions!! It is society! Everybody has an opinion and most of them have no idea what they are talking about.
February 18, 2013 at 6:59 pm | Report comment
Robert
Wirerowe...when it comes to seniority's role in the educational hiring process you make more of an assumption than a theory. Seniority is just one of several factors that determine who receives a particular position in a school. And, if you are wondering why the AFT and WVEA look at a change in the State hiring codes with a weary eye you need to look no further than the hiring of Jim Phares as the State's new Superintendent of Schools. For crying out loud, would you actually argue that the best candidate for the job was hired...they never even bothered to interview anybody else. This was the "good ole boy" network at it's best.
I would argue that cronyism is alive and well in the State of West Virginia. Need you be reminded that, half if not more, of Joe Manchin's relatives hold some office in WV State Government...his wife is serving on the State BOE. I personally believe that "Mntnman" would have been a better choice to appoint to the State BOE that Gayle Manchin...he seems to have a much better grasp of the educational issue facing West Virginia than the ex-governor's wife. But no, you choose to carry on the myth that "the best person will get the job"...more than likely...it's the best friend of whoever is in power. Ask John Raese if he thinks the best company got the contract to WVU's 3rd tier sport rights.......
February 18, 2013 at 9:05 pm | Report comment
wirerowe
Robert& Mntnman you make some good points But I remain convinced that the several factors that you refer to are on the book are legalize and a smoke screen for what goes on in pracice in many counties, I accept Mntnman's assertion that it does not occur in his county as fact. I understand fully the threat of cronysim and nepotism in the school system, in unions and those instances that you referred to above.My impresssions except for teachers there are no protections against this in the code The protections for the teachers are way overboard and have had the affect of advancing subaverage teachers at the expense of more qualified teachers. It denies the most qualifed teachers due process.You and Mnntman have still not answered my question of why it is necessary for the Governor to put in code that school boards will hire the most qualified (where certainly experience would be important) if senority (which is clearly very different from experience.) is not the most important factor in many real life hiring situations. At least you guys say no in a civilized matter and make good points even when you are wrong.
February 19, 2013 at 5:04 pm | Report comment
mntnman
I don't know why the governor feels the need to do it; except that he wants to eliminate it completely from a factor in hiring. Because it is one factor. It is just not the only factor. To be sure, many counties seem to have decided in close calls, just give the job to the most senior employee. They are simply trying to avoid grievances. We use the entire code to hire; sometimes seniority is the determining factor; sometimes its most recent relevant training.
Perhaps (I am going to brag a little) our county has simply developed a good working relationship with our teachers and we each try to do our best to work through issues. Perhaps other counties take a more adversarial approach. I don't know. I just know that as with all things, there is a middle ground between the way we do it now and the good ole boy system of yesteryear. Personnel laws do seem nonsensical at times, but then I know in the old days, it was about who you knew and the connections you had. It still wasn't about the best possible person. So, we need to find a methodology that hits the sweet spot on hiring. I can't pretend to know what it is , but I'm working on it.
As for your last comment, thanks, but when am I ever wrong. ; )
February 19, 2013 at 6:08 pm | Report comment