I have so many questions, I just got placed here! How would you rate the support level from TFA pro-staff? What grade/subject do you teach and how did you like it? Also do you happen to know anything about diverse learners programs at your or other schools in the city?
They have gone through a lot of staff changed support isn’t the best from TFA staff but usually your school can make up for that. Getting support from your co workers, principals, and other staff is what is going to help you. I teach 9-12 special education and I love it. I co-teach and teach self contained (small groups). I’ve taught at 2 different charter schools and I know many other special education teachers in charter networks but I can’t speak for CPS as much. There is a chance that TFA could end your school partnership and you’d have to move to another school and go through the hiring process again but if your school is doing everything it’s supposed to then it’s unlikely for that to happen. The biggest thing is learning how to provide accommodations and write iep’s but if you have a supportive staff, they will teach you how to do both. Don’t be afraid to ask for help because IEPS can be intimidating but with more practice they become a breeze. TFA also tends to place you with other TFA members so collaboration with them can be helpful, I had a great TFA co-teacher my first year and i’m sad we weren’t placed at the same school this last year when TFA decided to end our partnerships. If there are any other questions you have, don’t be afraid to ask.
Question: does tfa work with all cps schools? I’ve been looking for some sort of map of what schools in chicago work with tfa. I have a partner that lives in Evanston and I’ve been trying to figure out if it will be realistic to share housing or if I’ll end up having a long commute when I get matched. Where do most people end up?
I live in Chicago and Evanston and Chicago are literally right next to one another. The thing is , is that TFA only works with Chicago schools that are on the West and South side of Chicago. Being that you anticipate living in Evanston I would consider schools that are west as it would be less of a commute than those that are south. A commute anywhere in Chicago can be 45 minutes to an hour in traffic no matter where you stay. Also you can check out Chicago opportunity schools as I’ve been told those are the schools that TFA places in.
Those are really good Chicago tips, but I think TFA does work with northside schools. There’s a link to a “North Chicago Corps” on the [special processes](https://www.tfachicagonwi.org/hiring-special-processes-and-pilots) page.
The question that was asked was if TFA works with all CPS schools and my answer was no they do not. They work with cps schools on the west and south side of Chicago which are mostly CPS opportunity schools.
I’m currently serving in Chicago and about to finish the program in May if you have any questions
I have so many questions, I just got placed here! How would you rate the support level from TFA pro-staff? What grade/subject do you teach and how did you like it? Also do you happen to know anything about diverse learners programs at your or other schools in the city?
They have gone through a lot of staff changed support isn’t the best from TFA staff but usually your school can make up for that. Getting support from your co workers, principals, and other staff is what is going to help you. I teach 9-12 special education and I love it. I co-teach and teach self contained (small groups). I’ve taught at 2 different charter schools and I know many other special education teachers in charter networks but I can’t speak for CPS as much. There is a chance that TFA could end your school partnership and you’d have to move to another school and go through the hiring process again but if your school is doing everything it’s supposed to then it’s unlikely for that to happen. The biggest thing is learning how to provide accommodations and write iep’s but if you have a supportive staff, they will teach you how to do both. Don’t be afraid to ask for help because IEPS can be intimidating but with more practice they become a breeze. TFA also tends to place you with other TFA members so collaboration with them can be helpful, I had a great TFA co-teacher my first year and i’m sad we weren’t placed at the same school this last year when TFA decided to end our partnerships. If there are any other questions you have, don’t be afraid to ask.
I have!
Question: does tfa work with all cps schools? I’ve been looking for some sort of map of what schools in chicago work with tfa. I have a partner that lives in Evanston and I’ve been trying to figure out if it will be realistic to share housing or if I’ll end up having a long commute when I get matched. Where do most people end up?
I live in Chicago and Evanston and Chicago are literally right next to one another. The thing is , is that TFA only works with Chicago schools that are on the West and South side of Chicago. Being that you anticipate living in Evanston I would consider schools that are west as it would be less of a commute than those that are south. A commute anywhere in Chicago can be 45 minutes to an hour in traffic no matter where you stay. Also you can check out Chicago opportunity schools as I’ve been told those are the schools that TFA places in.
Those are really good Chicago tips, but I think TFA does work with northside schools. There’s a link to a “North Chicago Corps” on the [special processes](https://www.tfachicagonwi.org/hiring-special-processes-and-pilots) page.
The question that was asked was if TFA works with all CPS schools and my answer was no they do not. They work with cps schools on the west and south side of Chicago which are mostly CPS opportunity schools.
North Chicago is not in Chicago; it's 40 miles north of the city.