IAMA Teach For America alum who taught science at a shitty urban school. Most students didn't want to learn, my district's leaders were overpaid idiots, and TFA is wrong on education policy. AMA!

I taught in one of this country's worst urban districts through Teach For America. My school sucked so much that it was roughly 9% proficient on state exams. Due to how easy it is to identify me within my region, I've chosen to not share where I taught.

I began my two years believing that teachers were to blame for poor test scores in my district, and I left believing that the students, their families, and the district leadership are actually the problems. By focusing on teacher quality, I believe that TFA and other "reform" organizations are attempting to fix a gunshot wound with a Band-Aid. It may help stop some of the bleeding, but the root causes of the problems are being ignored.

I've seen some crazy shit that makes for great conversation when drinking with friends, and it would take a novel to say everything I'd like to say. You might ask about the following topics:

• The state of science education in urban schools
• The effect of NCLB and the obsession with short-term test score gains on science education
• Are teachers the problem?
• Teacher unions
• Bureaucratic incompetence
• Why school districts cannot be "fixed" by changing leadership
• Does TFA adequately train corps members?
• Education policy
• Why paying teachers for test scores is a horrible idea
• The REAL difference between urban and suburban schools
• Do I feel like I made a difference?

Ask me absolutely anything. I have so much to share, and I think that I have a unique perspective on many issues in education today.

Update: I'm at dinner, so I'll be replying to everything once I get back in an hour or two. I'll also be replying to comments most of the night.

Update 2: I will make an effort to reply to everyone. Thank you for all the great questions!