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<p>The thing you have to understand is that in the kinds of environments we’re talking about, “experience” is grinding teachers into the blood-stained ground. In some of these places, the fresh recruits from TFA are working among cynical, hard-bitten, foul-mouthed chair-warmers and time-card punchers who often need more help than the children. </p>
<p>My TFA kid has a coast-to-coast network that would make your head spin. The experienced teachers? No, I think you are right, they do not network. Their circuits are fried. </p>
<p>It takes a pretty big belly full of fire to do TFA. This apparently is recognized by people who know the program, which is why it is a very valuable entry on any resume.</p>