5 Years in L.A.
Joni Mitchell – Both Sides, Now
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It’s hard to believe that I’ve now lived in Los Angeles for over 5 years now. While on the one hand, the time seems to have flown by, on the other hand, there are often frequent reminders of just how long ago 5 years was.
Case in point: when I first moved to Los Angeles, I did so under the auspices of Teach For America (TFA), and was immediately immersed in the five-week hell called ”Institute”, i.e. the crash course in teaching. Anyway, Tuesday night of this past week, I found myself once again, at Institute (albeit under much different circumstances) where the ‘09 TFA Corps members were being trained.
I sat in on one of the evening sessions that dealt with teaching elementary math and watched as about 50 enthusiastic new teachers talked about ways they would try to teach their summer school kids their multiplication facts. Seeing their bright eyes and their inner drive gave me a second wind of inspiration as I plan for next year even this early this summer. Yet that bubble was quickly burst upon the quick remembrance that LAUSD is getting 0 new TFA recruits this year due to budget cuts.
TFA is not the magic, cure-all solution to the education woes of the nation, despite what many folks will tell you, yet I’ve got to say that I’ve still got mostly warm and fuzzy feelings for the cult of TFA that got me out here teaching in the first place. Thanks again, and thanks for repaying my loans!
Themocracy
Time flies! That’s sad that LAUSD isn’t getting any TFA recruits. While TFA isn’t the cure-all to all education problems, it is a step in the right direction. While I was naive in my thinking about my own impact at that time, I continue to hope for the same passion, energy, and drive that is characteristic of TFA teachers.
You’re absolutely right! TFA is one of many steps in the right direction that LAUSD needs to take! Another thing they need to do is to SERIOUSLY take a look at the specific things that are making charters successful! There’s a reason talented teachers go to teach and charter schools and if LAUSD actually took the time to figure out which elements were present to make it successful, they’d have more success themselves (AND have a much better chance at teacher retention)!
That, and of course, ending social promotion. :)
Everytime I drive by the building where we almost moved in to in Koreatown, I too think back to how long it has been. And I think back to Neil and his craziness….it seems like many, many years ago. We should do a 5-year reunion….bonfire at Dockweiler with all the former TFAers. Thoughts???
3rd and Kingsley. Me too, man. I’d totally be down for a bonfire reunion with the ’04 TFA folks. You think Loren might be able to get the ball rolling on that?
I agree with you that the public school system has a lot to learn from charter schools that are working. That said, I think it’s a crazy system that the public school system authorizes it’s competition (charter schools). We experienced a ton of hostility from the local district here up in Fresno.
What are you doing this next year? I hear from friends that you were still at Cochran this past year. Their was a day when I went to visit Cochran – to see you and Raul – but you were on a minimum day, and I completely missed everyone except Seagoe and Schmurelson. I don’t know if I told you or not, but I’m headed over to Achievement First in New York to be a Principal-in-Residence at one of their schools.
Crazy to think I’m actually about to begin Year 6 at Cochran — the second half of my 3rd loop!
I think I heard through the grapevine (even if the “grapevine” is now made up of “1″s and “0″s) that you were in NY. That’s cool that you’re headed down the admin track. Seriously, schools need great admin….bad ones can really hurt teachers and kids. Good luck as you start! Keep in touch!
The most influential lever in student learning is great instruction, so it’s good to see people like you commit to a group of students and school in the way that you have. The students are lucky to have someone that’s having such a positive impact on their lives. Have you seen changes at Cochran in the time you’ve been there? You should do a blog entry on the big rock lessons that you’ve learned. I’m sure that would be helpful to a lot of people. :)
wow! i can’t believe you’ve lived there for 5 years! how long do you think you’ll stay there? wanna try Nashville??? :) it’s a great city.
It’s an a-MAZ-ing city! At this point, it would take a significant life event for me to move away :)