One Day, All Children: The Unlikely Triumph of Teach for America and What I Learned Along the Way

Rating:
Summary: Wendy Kopp is my hero!
Review: I absolutely love this book, and I think Teach for America is one of the best ideas of our century. This book is essential for anyone in an education of social justice field. Kopp writes about her struggle to start TFA, and I share her disbelief that no such teacher corps had already existed. In short, read this book. And if you can, support TFA financially. Their website is teachformamerica.org

Rating:
Summary: An inspirational short read
Review: In less than 200 pages, Ms. Kopp details every step she took in establishing Teach for America, the national teaching corps for recent college graduates. Chapters 1-9 are a primer for fundraising techniques, non-profit organizational set-up and strong management skills. But, Chapter 10, the most interesting by far, is a lengthy description on what makes good educators. You may be inspired enough to join in the efforts in ensuring excellent education for all children in this great nation of ours.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring, interesting, quick read
Review: Like the rest of the world, I was profoundly touched by the heroics of the New York police and firefighters during and after the terrorist attacks. I see their self-sacrifice as the ultimate example of public service and a moving reminder of the American spirit of service to one's fellowmen. I could never presume that my commitment could rise to the level of the heroic actions of the people in New York, but I have been inspired by the example. Although I am eager to fully explore policy issues in graduate school, I strongly desire to serve Teach For America prior to furthering my education.

Teach For America is Wendy Kopp's brilliant idea to recruit, train, and place the nation's best college graduates in inner-city teaching positions. "One Day, All Children..." is Kopp's story of the development of this non-profit organization that upholds the mission statement of, "One day, all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education."

Nearing her graduation from Princeton University in 1989, Kopp faced a problem many idealistic young people face, including myself: wanting to have an immediate impact on the world. The idea of Teach For America was originally Kopp's senior thesis, but becamse a reality when she decided to pursue it upon graduation. The opening chapters of the book focus on the hard work it took to raise funds, recruit applicants, select teachers, plan and implement training, and survive on a day to day basis. These chapters are fascinating, explicitly detailed (with memos and letters included that Kopp wrote to CEOs for funding, etc), and paint a beautiful picture of the hard work that Kopp and others put in to TFA.

The following few chapters focus on the younger years of TFA, and these chapters drag a little bit (and are a little repetitive). But the chapters are well worth the read, as Kopp closes nicely with what she learned from the experiences. Kopp learned two important lessons to running a business, and they are closely tied together. First, Kopp realized that TFA had to have effective management and leadership. Although TFA was able to survive initially on its own merit, good ideas will not keep a company going in the long run. Second, TFA had to set goals for its finances and plan business accordingly. Early on Kopp started other programs that worked in conjunction with TFA, like TEACH! which worked to recruit excellent college graduates into teaching positions. But TFA tried to move on this idea before the funding was there, and this created a world of trouble for Kopp, as she works long hours every day just to make sure that TFA makes payroll every two weeks! In the end TFA is able to become a viable program not only through the impact it creates and the hard work and motivation of its employees, but also because of its connection with the Americorps program.

The next section deals with the success of TFA and is inspiring to all those that are thinking of serving the country. Kopp tells the stories of many TFA teachers, and outlines the key to their success: good leadership. Kopp closes this section with a vision for the future, which has become TFA's mission statement, and a challenge to all recent college graduates to consider applying for the program. I read this book after already having applied, but am even more inspired to serve now! I read this book in no time at all and strongly recommend it to recent graduates, all involved in education, and any idealist out there that is ready to make a difference to this country.

Rating:
Summary: An inspirational short read
Review: One person, and idea, and a difference. Wendy Kopp detailed the relentless cycle of securing grant money to meet payroll to keep the organization afloat. Often the life of this organization was within days of sinking, but alas, the golden check was cleared. She is a very gifted networker, who managed a large organization without management experience until she handed over the operational reigns to those who knew what was going on. This account is from the perspective of the person who created the organization and ran it, so this should be taken into account. Their was heavy emphasis on recruiting graduates from Ivy League universities, which is good, because the students they would be teaching almost never have access to teachers with Ivy League educations and exposure. Those not in the Ivy Leagues seemed to not have a shot, although they could have made a significant impact. The reason why Teach For America exists in the first place in my opinion, is because the monopolistic public school system is an outright systematic, bureaucratic disaster today. TFA is a needed action, but also puts a band-aid on a bullet wound that is bleeding like a sieve. Recommended to young, new teachers, that are still idealistic and haven't become cynical, burned out, or moribund yet because of politics, administrators, and idiotic school policies.

Rating:
Summary: An Idea Acted Upon....
Review: One person, and idea, and a difference. Wendy Kopp detailed the relentless cycle of securing grant money to meet payroll to keep the organization afloat. Often the life of this organization was within days of sinking, but alas, the golden check was cleared. She is a very gifted networker, who managed a large organization without management experience until she handed over the operational reigns to those who knew what was going on. This account is from the perspective of the person who created the organization and ran it, so this should be taken into account. Their was heavy emphasis on recruiting graduates from Ivy League universities, which is good, because the students they would be teaching almost never have access to teachers with Ivy League educations and exposure. Those not in the Ivy Leagues seemed to not have a shot, although they could have made a significant impact. The reason why Teach For America exists in the first place in my opinion, is because the monopolistic public school system is an outright systematic, bureaucratic disaster today. TFA is a needed action, but also puts a band-aid on a bullet wound that is bleeding like a sieve. Recommended to young, new teachers, that are still idealistic and haven't become cynical, burned out, or moribund yet because of politics, administrators, and idiotic school policies.

Rating:
Summary: Success against the odds!
Review: Read the book in one day! Even though you know the outcome, it has the pull of a fiction novel as you read through the ups and downs of building TFA.

Kopp shows that vision, persistence and optimism can beat the odds when it comes to a good idea. She also demonstrates that all good ideas hit big speed bumps and resiliency is key with some insightful stories.

In addition there is a fairly specific prescription for what makes for a good teacher at the end of the book. This isn't philosophical musings--this is exeperiential lessons being laid out by Kopp.

If you feel like being uplifted and gaining some knowledge on what makes a good teacher operate--read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Success against the odds!
Review: Read the book in one day! Even though you know the outcome, it has the pull of a fiction novel as you read through the ups and downs of building TFA.

Kopp shows that vision, persistence and optimism can beat the odds when it comes to a good idea. She also demonstrates that all good ideas hit big speed bumps and resiliency is key with some insightful stories.

In addition there is a fairly specific prescription for what makes for a good teacher at the end of the book. This isn't philosophical musings--this is exeperiential lessons being laid out by Kopp.

If you feel like being uplifted and gaining some knowledge on what makes a good teacher operate--read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring!
Review: Telling the autobiographical account of herself as a naive college student launching a movement, Wendy Kopp offers detailed explanations of her mistakes and personal follies along the way, giving the book an unusual honesty and character. It's an excellent case study of building a large non-profit organization, but it's also a moving story of powerful determination. The book becomes a real gem when it tells inspiring personal accounts of the teachers within her corps. By the end, you realize (or at least I did) that her vision may actually be a possible reality: That "One day, ALL children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education." A must-read for those (even remotely) interested in improving educational equality in this country.

(FYI, all proceeds from the book go directly to Teach For America to attain classroom resources for its corps members!)

Rating:
Summary: Must Read for Educators and Change Agents
Review: Wendy Kopp's book is must reading for anyone concerned about the poor performance of disadvantaged students in too many of our schools. As the founder of Teach for America, Ms. Kopp started an organization that has led the way in bringing new people and new solutions to our schools. This experience has given her insights into what must be done to change our schools and is therefore a straightforward, entertaining and above all positive approach to educational reform. It peddles no particular curriculum or even pedagogical approach.

The book is not just instructive for those concerned about education. It should also be required reading for anyone in the nonprofit sector who wants to improve an existing organization or start a new one. It tells how Ms. Kopp as a college senior transformed her senior thesis at Princeton into a movement for educational reform throughout the United States. Would-be do-gooders who want to help make some part of the American Dream a reality for others can learn from this model of commitment, leadership and intelligence. The book is not a puff piece about the success of the TFA, but a detailed account about the false starts and many mistakes made by Ms. Kopp that can hopefully help others to avoid. This book is about how to be an effective change agent in a world that needs thousands more like her.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring!!!
Review: When I picked up this book, I had no idea that I would be so hooked to Wendy Kopp's story, and feel inspired to be a part of Teach For America.

This is an incredible book, written by an idealistic woman who envisioned this program while she was an undergraduate at Princeton University. The book provides valuable insights to those who want to be in the non-profit sector, and especially to those who want to understand the day-to-day operations of how to keep a non-profit organization afloat and alive!

Kopp has written a genuine account of how she made her vision a reality, and described the numerous challenges and obstacles Teach For America faced, all the while remaining optimistic. She and the participants of Teach For America truly exemplify the spirit of restoring quality education to students in our schools.

For all those who have participated in the Teach For America program, I salute you! For those who have not yet joined - apply! As an educator myself, I have immensely enjoyed reading of Kopp's commitment to ensuring that One Day, all children will recieve the best education possible!

A must read for all!