Pretty interesting...a bit boring at the end though. ( )

In the interest of disclosure, I must first admit that I am a Teach for America alumnus (and in fact you can see my face on the cover, it's in the "O") and thus have an attachment to this story because it brings me back to a certain time in my life. Wendy Kopp's memoir, is part-chronicle, part-inspirational work on her founding of Teach for America. She details the birth of the idea, the various obstacles she encountered, and the hectic lives of people working for a small NGO start-up trying to transform into a national movement. Although I didn't enjoy the writing itself so much, and the story becomes repititious as Wendy Kopp deals with constant financial and fund-raising woes, the story itself is really quite remarkable. Wendy discusses with candor how Teach for America struggled, how they over-reached with side projects, and eventually how they became a model organization. The book is easily read in a few hours and illustrates the ups and downs to be experienced by any starting development organization. Anyone with a passing interest in educational reform or in joining the Teach for America movement would benefit from a read. Although I haven't taught in several years, upon closing the cover, I recovered the sense of admiration and respect that I have both for Teach for America's founders and for all teachers struggling in under-resourced school districts. ( )

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Education, Teaching 005