An examination of Teach For America's impact on the teaching profession, hiring practices, and educational leadership

"In the multi-faceted work of examining Teach For America (TFA), an important question that needs more complex consideration is: ""What are the actual and potential effects of TFA on federal, state, and school district policies/practices surrounding teacher preparation and the education profession?"" Drawing on Critical Policy Analysis (CPA) and Strategic Action Fields (SAF), I examine the historical arc of federal policies surrounding teacher preparation and educational practices. I show that TFA’s chief impacts on teacher preparation and the education profession are: (1) TFA's impact on the teaching profession itself; (2) the impact of TFA on hiring practices; and (3) the impact of TFA on school leadership and policy through its growing alumni base. As TFA corps members generate manufactured expertise in educational practices and policies, the movement of corps members through the classroom and into leadership positions further reinforces TFA’s impact on the profession, hiring decisions, and future educational leaders."

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Policy Studies

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Brewer, Timothy Jameson

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lubienski, Christopher
• Mayo, Cris
• Welton, Anjalé
• Scott, Janelle

• Teach For America
• Teacher Preparation
• Neoliberalism

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 T. Jameson Brewer

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/90541

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F90541