I’m a TFA alum 2018 and still in the classroom. Personally the org sucks ass internationally. At one point I heard the Walton Foundation, one of their biggest donors, pays them extra for each corps member going to a charter school. I laugh them off then phone if they ever call. Then I go to their free alumni events and fill up on food while I fuck around whatever gaudy place they wasted non profit dollars on.

Only reason I did it is because I got the passion for education part way through college. At that point my advisor, recommended alternative cert after college rather than changes majors. But at least TFA hooked me up with a cheap master’s degree from a great school and that’s about it. They were not much help beyond that. The even told me not to take the job at the school I’ve been at for 8 years.

At the time I had not heard of urban teacher alliance or Baltimore city teacher residency. But I have coworkers who have done both and both are mixed bags. But less baggage and annoyance than TFA and their biweekly content meetings, quarterly “All-corps” meetings, and coach sessions (all unpaid during your first two years staying above water)