Final answer:
Teach for America provides passionate, motivated educators who can introduce new teaching approaches but may lack experience and subject expertise, potentially leading to a lack of continuity and high turnover due to short-term commitments and pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Employing teachers from Teach for America comes with its advantages and disadvantages. On the pro side, schools gain access to passionate educators, often recent top college graduates, who bring enthusiasm and new perspectives to the classroom. Teach for America advocates for the concept that every student should have access to highly effective teachers, an aspiration that aligns with efforts to close the achievement gap in under-resourced schools. The vigor and innovative teaching strategies often associated with these teachers can contribute to student growth and achievement.
However, there are also cons. First, these teachers may only commit to a two-year teaching stint, which can result in a lack of continuity for students. Many Teach for America instructors may not have a background in education nor a specialized degree in the subjects they teach, unlike their counterparts in many high-performing international education systems. As well, the lack of long-term job security—echoed by policies from institutions like The Equity Project—can put immense pressure on teachers, potentially leading to burnout and high turnover rates that could disrupt the learning environment.