Many of you know Josh from his days of working on the Rec Staff for his Dad here at Strawberry Park, but since his graduation from Brown University, he served as a teacher in Arizona as part of Teach for America. More recently, he has earned the position as the executive director of Teach for America in the Boston area. In today's Boston Globe, he published a letter in response to a recent Globe article about Teach for America. While I will copy his letter here in the blog, I will also provide a link to the Globe, which would allow you to read the original article, as well as any comments that may accompany his letter. Those of us at Strawberry Park are very proud of both Josh and and his sister Melissa (who recently graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and is now working in southwestern CT, just over the NY border), and their parents were pleased to have them home recently for the holiday. I have told Buck and Sonia that Jen and I will be thrilled to have our kids turn out as well as Josh and Melissa.
Boston Globe "Letters to the Editor" April 11, 2009
I AM writing to address several questions raised in the April 3 front-page article "Hub teachers reject public service corps."
Discuss
COMMENTS (4)
Teach for America's teachers fill open positions in areas of need for our partnering districts. They make up just one pool, among many, of new teachers that local principals have the opportunity to hire. We choose our teachers, many of them recent college graduates, through a process designed to identify individuals with the skills, mind-set, and commitment necessary to be successful in the classroom. Our teachers attend a rigorous training institute, receive professional support throughout their first two years of teaching, and complete university coursework to fulfill state credentialing requirements.
Over the last 19 years, we have worked in more than 100 school districts in 29 regions across the country to provide high-quality teachers in low-income communities. Further, 94 percent of principals who work with our teachers report that they have made a positive impact.
Massachusetts has long been renowned for its educational innovations and progress, and we are eager to join local efforts to increase achievement for all students. I am confident that our teachers will demonstrate their value as educators, colleagues, and dedicated advocates for the students of Boston.
Joshua Biber
Executive directorTeach for America - Greater Boston
link to article http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2009/04/11/teach_for_america_aims_to_be_of_value/
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