At Charter Schools, Short Careers by Choice

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At Charter Schools, Short Careers by Choice

Michael Stravato for The New York Times
Tyler Dowdy, 24, is in his third year of teaching at YES Prep West in Houston, but is already exploring his next move. More Photos »
By MOTOKO RICH
Published: August 26, 2013 33 Comments

HOUSTON — Tyler Dowdy just started his third year of teaching at YES Prep West, a charter school here. He figures now is a good time to explore his next step, including applying for a supervisory position at the school.
Multimedia


Mr. Dowdy is 24 years old, which might make his restlessness seem premature. But then, his principal is 28. Across YES Prep’s 13 schools, teachers have an average of two and a half years of experience.

As tens of millions of pupils across the country begin their school year, charter networks are developing what amounts to a youth cult in which teaching for two to five years is seen as acceptable and, at times, even desirable. Teachers in the nation’s traditional public schools have an average of close to 14 years of experience, and public school leaders and policy makers have long made it a priority to reduce teacher turnover.

But with teachers confronting the overhaul of evaluations and tenure as well as looming changes in pension benefits, the small but rapidly growing charter school movement — with schools that are publicly financed but privately operated — is pushing to redefine the arc of a teaching career.

“We have this highly motivated, highly driven work force who are now wondering, ‘O.K., I’ve got this, what’s the next thing?’ ” said Jennifer Hines, senior vice president of people and programs at YES Prep. “There is a certain comfort level that we have with people who are perhaps going to come into YES Prep and not stay forever.”

The notion of a foreshortened teaching career was largely introduced by Teach for America, which places high-achieving college graduates into low-income schools for two years. Today, Teach for America places about a third of its recruits in charter schools.

“Strong schools can withstand the turnover of their teachers,” said Wendy Kopp, the founder of Teach for America. “The strongest schools develop their teachers tremendously so they become great in the classroom even in their first and second years.”

Studies have shown that on average, teacher turnover diminishes student achievement. Advocates who argue that teaching should become more like medicine or law say that while programs like Teach for America fill a need in the short term, educational leaders should be focused on improving training and working environments so that teachers will invest in long careers.

“To become a master plumber you have to work for five years,” said Ronald Thorpe, president of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, a nonprofit group that certifies accomplished teachers. “Shouldn’t we have some kind of analog to that with the people we are entrusting our children to?”

Teachers’ unions and others in the traditional education establishment argue that charter schools are driving teachers away with longer hours and school years, as well as higher workplace demands. (At YES Prep, for example, all teachers are assigned a cellphone to answer any student call for homework assistance until 9 p.m.)

These critics also say that schools and students need stability and that a system of serial short timers is not replicable across thousands of school districts nationwide.

“When you stay in a school or community, you build relationships,” said Andrea Giunta, a senior policy analyst for teacher recruitment, retention and diversity at the National Education Association, the country’s largest teachers’ union.

Baby boomers who went into teaching tended to stay in the profession for decades. But as they have retired, the teaching corps has shifted toward the less experienced. According to an analysis of federal data by Richard M. Ingersoll, a professor of education at the University of Pennsylvania, the proportion of teachers with five or fewer years of experience rose to 28 percent in 2007-8 from 17 percent in 1987-8.

The restless generation of millennials is likely to accelerate the trend. Some charter school leaders say that some experienced teachers grow tired and less effective, and that educators need to embrace the change.

“My take is yes, we do need and want some number of teachers to be ‘lifers,’ for lack of a better word,” said Doug McCurry, a co-chief executive of Achievement First, a nonprofit charter operator with 25 schools in Connecticut, Brooklyn and Providence, R.I., where teachers spend an average of 2.3 years in the classroom. But, he said, he would be happy if “the majority of the teachers that walked in the door gave us five or seven really good teaching years and then went on to do something else.”

Other charter networks have similar career arcs for teachers. At Success Academy Charter Schools, a chain run by Eva S. Moskowitz, a former New York City councilwoman, the average is about four years in the classroom. KIPP, one of the country’s best known and largest charter operators, with 141 schools in 20 states, also keeps teachers in classrooms for an average of about four years.

[caden]

The vast majority of our charters are in low income areas where turnover is high in the public schools too so I don't know that it's fair to compare turnover rates between them and all public schools. That said I agree having less turnover is important. I'm not sure what the solution is because teaching in places like Detroit is very difficult and burns people out quickly even with strong unions.

[rugbywife]

I taught for 12 years at 4 schools (3 years in a rough school, lucky I lasted that long, 1 year in a good school, then recruited by that principal to open a new school, 7 year with that principal at the school, left to open another new school, stayed a year before being promoted to VP, so 3,1,7,1)

My husband has done 1 year at a school and then had to switch to get full time. He has been at that school for 3 years, this will be his 4th. He said he would like to stay at least 8 years as long as he likes admin. I get bored staying in the same context too long so I doubt I could have ever stayed anywhere for 8 years.

Some teachers stay in schools too long. Personally I think 10 years should be a
max. Most teachers her work about 31 years before retirement. I would say most will work in at least 3-5 schools in that time frame. I know some who only worked at 2 but I have found those who do are often adverse to change in any ways.

[mrsukyankee]

This is very similar to international schools, where there are some lifers, but the majority end up staying between 1 to 5 years, and many have worked in a lot of different schools. I worked in 4 schools in 15 years.

[Deleted]

I think there is a difference between switching schools and only staying in the role 3-5 years which the article seems to be indicating

[rugbywife]

Aug 27, 2013 5:59:15 GMT -5 @septimus said:

I think there is a difference between switching schools and only staying in the role 3-5 years which the article seems to be indicating

Oh! Like teacher attrition!! Whoops, missed that part. Yeah, if teachers are leaving before 5 years, not a good sign. It means they are burnt out. That being available until 9pm by phone part is insane.

[Deleted]

Aug 27, 2013 6:01:06 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

Aug 27, 2013 5:59:15 GMT -5 @septimus said:

I think there is a difference between switching schools and only staying in the role 3-5 years which the article seems to be indicating

Oh! Like teacher attrition!! Whoops, missed that part. Yeah, if teachers are leaving before 5 years, not a good sign. It means they are burnt out. That being available until 9pm by phone part is insane.

I suspect that a lot of people going to teach at charter schools through non-traditional programs such as TFA are using it for a stepping stone or stop gap. These aren't people who grew up wanting to be teachers but more likely "do-gooders" or looking to boost graduate school applications, etc. 

[rugbywife]

Aug 27, 2013 6:06:26 GMT -5 @septimus said:

Aug 27, 2013 6:01:06 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

Oh! Like teacher attrition!! Whoops, missed that part. Yeah, if teachers are leaving before 5 years, not a good sign. It means they are burnt out. That being available until 9pm by phone part is insane.

I suspect that a lot of people going to teach at charter schools through non-traditional programs such as TFA are using it for a stepping stone or stop gap. These aren't people who grew up wanting to be teachers but more likely "do-gooders" or looking to boost graduate school applications, etc. 

Yeah. That doesn't happen here. Our system is different, we don't get 4 year education degrees, they don't exist. We get a Bachelor of Arts or Science ( of business or whatever) and THEN we get a bachelor of Education. A BEd doesn't boost your chances to get into anything else, it just qualifies you to teach.

Some people get one and never teach, but that is because we have way more teachers than jobs in our province -like thousands more. Some teachers go into teaching and then leave if it isn't what they expected. But nobody uses it for a stepping stone to other careers here.

[NitaX]

Aug 27, 2013 5:59:15 GMT -5 @septimus said:

I think there is a difference between switching schools and only staying in the role 3-5 years which the article seems to be indicating

This.

TFAers aren't always in the public school system for 10 years. They teach for 2 years and then that's it. Then they go off to some educational leadership programs where they aspire to work in administration and affect change on a system that they barely even know anything about. 

It took me 2 years just to get a grasp of education related issues in the state. I'm now 5 years in and FINALLY feel like I have a good grasp on most of the issues to give you rationale on why something needs to happen XYZ way. 

I don't necessarily have a problem with TFA in encouraging new people to get into teaching, but I don't like the 2 yr window. I agree with the person in the article who said ideally they'd want someone to be around for like 5 years. 

Having never taught, I'd gather that it takes some time to figure out your own teaching method and how kids respond best. I just have difficulty believing you can master that in 2 years. And, I worry about the impact that has on student achievement. Because, these kids are tracked from grades 3-8. So, you're churning out new teachers on them every 2 years. So, how is that helping them?

[Deleted]

Aug 27, 2013 5:53:24 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

I taught for 12 years at 4 schools (3 years in a rough school, lucky I lasted that long, 1 year in a good school, then recruited by that principal to open a new school, 7 year with that principal at the school, left to open another new school, stayed a year before being promoted to VP, so 3,1,7,1)

My husband has done 1 year at a school and then had to switch to get full time. He has been at that school for 3 years, this will be his 4th. He said he would like to stay at least 8 years as long as he likes admin. I get bored staying in the same context too long so I doubt I could have ever stayed anywhere for 8 years.

Some teachers stay in schools too long. Personally I think 10 years should be a
max. Most teachers her work about 31 years before retirement. I would say most will work in at least 3-5 schools in that time frame. I know some who only worked at 2 but I have found those who do are often adverse to change in any ways.

10 years? Why on earth? My kid's teacher has been there for over 20 years and I can tell you she is amazing, gifted and has built a huge community of volunteers, fundraisers and gets stuff done.  She loves what she does and is brilliant with the kids.  I would wish her on every child.  

[stealthmom]

Aug 27, 2013 6:12:13 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

Aug 27, 2013 6:06:26 GMT -5 @septimus said:

I suspect that a lot of people going to teach at charter schools through non-traditional programs such as TFA are using it for a stepping stone or stop gap. These aren't people who grew up wanting to be teachers but more likely "do-gooders" or looking to boost graduate school applications, etc. 

Yeah. That doesn't happen here. Our system is different, we don't get 4 year education degrees, they don't exist. We get a Bachelor of Arts or Science ( of business or whatever) and THEN we get a bachelor of Education. A BEd doesn't boost your chances to get into anything else, it just qualifies you to teach.

Some people get one and never teach, but that is because we have way more teachers than jobs in our province -like thousands more. Some teachers go into teaching and then leave if it isn't what they expected. But nobody uses it for a stepping stone to other careers here.

I would assume these people don't have any education degree which is why teaching is a stop gap for them.  If they had an education qualification they wouldn't need a special program. They could just apply for job openings.

[rugbywife]

Aug 27, 2013 23:39:35 GMT -5 @spenjamins said:

Aug 27, 2013 5:53:24 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

I taught for 12 years at 4 schools (3 years in a rough school, lucky I lasted that long, 1 year in a good school, then recruited by that principal to open a new school, 7 year with that principal at the school, left to open another new school, stayed a year before being promoted to VP, so 3,1,7,1)

My husband has done 1 year at a school and then had to switch to get full time. He has been at that school for 3 years, this will be his 4th. He said he would like to stay at least 8 years as long as he likes admin. I get bored staying in the same context too long so I doubt I could have ever stayed anywhere for 8 years.

Some teachers stay in schools too long. Personally I think 10 years should be a
max. Most teachers her work about 31 years before retirement. I would say most will work in at least 3-5 schools in that time frame. I know some who only worked at 2 but I have found those who do are often adverse to change in any ways.

10 years? Why on earth? My kid's teacher has been there for over 20 years and I can tell you she is amazing, gifted and has built a huge community of volunteers, fundraisers and gets stuff done.  She loves what she does and is brilliant with the kids.  I would wish her on every child.  

These teachers are the exceptions.  Changing school is good for teachers, it gives them new perspectives, allows them to teach students of different backgrounds, socio-economic level, age, etc...it allows them to collaborate with different teachers.  Teaching is very isolationist, teachers teach in a room, generally alone, and depending on the culture of the school and administration, can be sheltered from change and progress when they remain at one location and 'ride out' the changes in administration.

I am not saying there aren't situations where this isn't true, and to be fair, I am sure for many people changing schools may not be an option as the closest neighbouring school is much too far away.  It is just in my experience, in the suburban setting where I work, the teachers who remain in one school for more than half of their career aren't usually the strongest teachers.

[NitaX]

Aug 27, 2013 22:33:20 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

“Strong schools can withstand the turnover of their teachers,” said Wendy Kopp, the founder of Teach for America. “The strongest schools develop their teachers tremendously so they become great in the classroom even in their first and second years.”

So someone who graduates college in May can be an excellent teacher by January? lololllll

Do their students do summer reading?

NitaX, what is your degree/background that led you to your job? (in case you all can't tell, I am already trying on different jobs since my discussion with administration!)

I have NO education background. I hold a Bachelors in Poli Sci and a Master of Public Admin (concentration in Urban Mgmt and Planning). My current position is on the legislative end of education so it's not that I needed an education background to understand the field. I worked for close to five years in local government, so I know the landscape of local politics and its tie-in to education. 

It's funny how these things work out. When I took my job, that's when stuff started blowing up on the local politics front, so all m local govt contacts came in pretty handy. One of my colleagues called me a "spy" and at my old office, the attorney for that office called me a "traitor." LMBO

I would also like to shout out my decision to pursue a MPA. Hands down the best decision ever. It's a fairly versatile degree program and has translated well into both public and private sectors. 

[phunluvin82]

Aug 28, 2013 4:50:01 GMT -5 stealthmom said:

Aug 27, 2013 6:12:13 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

Yeah. That doesn't happen here. Our system is different, we don't get 4 year education degrees, they don't exist. We get a Bachelor of Arts or Science ( of business or whatever) and THEN we get a bachelor of Education. A BEd doesn't boost your chances to get into anything else, it just qualifies you to teach.

Some people get one and never teach, but that is because we have way more teachers than jobs in our province -like thousands more. Some teachers go into teaching and then leave if it isn't what they expected. But nobody uses it for a stepping stone to other careers here.

I would assume these people don't have any education degree which is why teaching is a stop gap for them.  If they had an education qualification they wouldn't need a special program. They could just apply for job openings.

Yeah, TFA has it's share of haters that feel it is damaging the teaching profession by essentially equating teaching with the new peace corp...i.e. something you do for 2 years to do some good and 'find yourself' before moving on to your 'real' career.

I do understand the criticism...but OTOH, not ALL teachers who leave the profession after only a few years are TFAers or the like.  Many intended to be 'lifers' but the realities of the job just completely burned them out.  Many of those realities are not specific to charter schools either.  I think caden has a good point there.  I don't have any stats to point to...but here in NOLA, I would be surprised if public school teacher attrition wasn't at about the same level as charter school teacher attrition.