During our principalship course, we had a very passionate discussion about how some of our colleagues perceive teachers that go through Teach for America or any alternative certification process for that matter. Some of my colleagues appear to be very bias in terms of qualifications and commitment of these particular teachers. I would have to respectfully disagree with them and perhaps I may as well be bias due to the route I chose to take to become an educator. Ten years ago, I chose to make the biggest decision in my life and that was to become a teacher. And the way I went about obtaining my certification at that time was through an alternative certification program offered by Rockford University. I do not regret my decision one bit
…show more content…
During my first year, I had an assigned mentor, a golden teacher’s mentor assigned by CPS, principal, and assistant principal that visited me often. My mentor, Len Dominguez, a retired CPS principal, assigned by Rockford University visited me once a week and took copious notes that I still have till this day. In retrospect, I can see tremendous amount of professional growth throughout my years as a teacher. My principal at the time, Dr. Carlos Azcoitia would also come in and observe my teaching once a week, but I never received any written feedback from him. I always wondered what he thought. Because of these experiences and the preparation that I obtained from this alternative certification program, I am where I am today—from a middle school science teacher to an instructional coach at a high school and now in route to obtain a second masters in school leadership. I haven’t dropped out or intend on doing …show more content…
Each determined that Teach for America is among the state 's most effective teacher preparation pathways and that Teach for America teachers outperform other beginning teachers. Moreover, when compared with veteran teachers, Teach for America teachers were found to be at least as strong. (…) In addition, according to a survey of principals who employ Teach for America teachers, 92 percent indicate that our teachers are as effective as, or more effective than, other beginning teachers in terms of overall performance and effect on student achievement. (Harding,
During my first year, I had an assigned mentor, a golden teacher’s mentor assigned by CPS, principal, and assistant principal that visited me often. My mentor, Len Dominguez, a retired CPS principal, assigned by Rockford University visited me once a week and took copious notes that I still have till this day. In retrospect, I can see tremendous amount of professional growth throughout my years as a teacher. My principal at the time, Dr. Carlos Azcoitia would also come in and observe my teaching once a week, but I never received any written feedback from him. I always wondered what he thought. Because of these experiences and the preparation that I obtained from this alternative certification program, I am where I am today—from a middle school science teacher to an instructional coach at a high school and now in route to obtain a second masters in school leadership. I haven’t dropped out or intend on doing …show more content…
Each determined that Teach for America is among the state 's most effective teacher preparation pathways and that Teach for America teachers outperform other beginning teachers. Moreover, when compared with veteran teachers, Teach for America teachers were found to be at least as strong. (…) In addition, according to a survey of principals who employ Teach for America teachers, 92 percent indicate that our teachers are as effective as, or more effective than, other beginning teachers in terms of overall performance and effect on student achievement. (Harding,