Teach For America Influence on Non-TFA Teachers in TFA-Hiring Schools - Summary

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by acoobca

Teach For America (TFA) uses alternative licensure to place corps members in U.S. public schools, shaping teacher expertise and policy practice. While research has largely examined TFA teachers’ entry experiences, this study addresses a gap by investigating nine non-TFA teachers working in traditional public schools alongside TFA hires. Interview findings highlight perceived TFA inexperience and the additional labor non-TFA teachers contribute to support novices. The paper also examines TFA attrition experiences and downstream effects on teachers, students, and staff.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages26

Reading Time1 h 6 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Study focus and design

Key findings

Scope and implications

| education policy analysis archives
A peer-reviewed, independent, open access, multilingual journal | | | --- | --- | | Arizona State University | | | Volume 30 Number 98 July 12, 2022 ISSN 1068-2341 | | Teach For America Influence on Non-TFA Teachers in TFA-Hiring Schools Ashlee B. Anderson The University of Tennessee United States Matthew A. M. Thomas The University of Sydney Australia & T. Jameson Brewer The University of North Georgia United States Citation: Anderson, A., Thomas, M. A. M., & Brewer, T. J. (2022) . Teach For America influence on non-TFA teachers in TFA-hiring schools. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 30(98) . [https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.30.6163](https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.30.6163) This article is part of the special issue Teachers and Educational Policy: Markets, Populism, and Im/Possibilities for Resistance, guest edited by Meghan Stacey, Mihajla Gavin, Jessica Gerrard, Anna Hogan and Jessica Holloway. Abstract: Teach For America (TFA) has left an indelible mark on education in the United States and worldwide through its expansion via Teach For All. A considerable body of research examines the impact and experiences of teachers who enter the profession via TFA and related organizations, including the ways in which they embody controversial policies and new forms of teacher expertise and professionalism. Scant research, however, has examined the experiences of non-TFA teachers who work alongside them. This instrumental case study draws on interviews with nine non-TFA teachers working in traditional public schools to explore their experiences of interacting with TFA teachers at their schools. The findings focus on the perceived inexperience of TFA teachers as well asthe labor expended by non-TFA teachers in support of these novice teachers. The paper also examines experiences of TFA teacher attrition and its impact on other teachers, students, and staff at the schools. The paper concludes by discussing the significance of this study and related research across individual, institutional, and broader structural levels. Keywords: Teach For America; sociocultural policy studies; case study; teacher attrition La influencia de Teach For America en los maestros que no pertenecen a TFA en las escuelas de contratación de TFA Resumen: Teach For America (TFA) ha dejado una huella imborrable en la educación en los Estados Unidos y en todo el mundo a través de su expansión a través de Teach For All. Un cuerpo considerable de investigación examina el impacto y las experiencias de los docentes que ingresan a la profesión a través de TFA y organizaciones relacionadas, incluidas las formas en que encarnan políticas controvertidas y nuevas formas deespecialización y profesionalismo docente. Sin embargo, escasa investigación ha examinado las experiencias de los docentes que no son TFA y que trabajan con ellos. Este estudio de caso instrumental se basa en entrevistas con nueve maestros que no son TFA que trabajan en escuelas públicas tradicionales para explorar sus experiencias de interacción con maestros TFA en sus escuelas. Los resultados se centran en lainexperiencia percibida de los docentes de TFA, así como en el trabajo realizado por docentes que no son de TFA en apoyo de estos docentes principiantes. El artículo tambiénexamina las experiencias de abandono escolar de los maestros de TFA y su impacto enotros maestros, estudiantes y personal escolar. El artículo concluye discutiendo la importancia de este estudio y la investigación relacionada a niveles individuales, institucionales y estructurales más amplios. Palabras clave: Teach For América; estudios de política sociocultural; estudios de caso; deserción docente Influência da Teach For America em professores não TFA em escolas de contratação de TFA Resumo: Teach For America (TFA) deixou uma marca indelével na educação nos Estados Unidos e no mundo por meio de sua expansão via Teach For All. Um corpo considerável de p

FAQs

What does the study examine about Teach For America in hiring schools?

It explores how non-TFA teachers experience working alongside TFA teachers in traditional public schools, including perceived inexperience and support labor.

How is the study conducted?

The research is an instrumental case study based on interviews with nine non-TFA teachers.

What impact does TFA teacher attrition have according to the paper?

The paper examines how TFA teacher attrition affects other teachers, students, and staff at the schools.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by acoobca