I just opened an email from Teach For America. They’ve invited me for a final interview. There are no guarantees, but I’m definitely pitching them on my deep desire to work in the Oakland Public Schools. As a graduate of this district (Joaquin Miller Elementary, Montera Junior High, and Skyline High School) I know that there were deep divides and a great disparity in the quality of education provided by different schools in this city, even when I was a student in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I was among the privileged — my teachers and schools were well funded and supported by the communities in which they were situated. I have many reasons for applying for TFA, but among those reasons is my love for Oakland. I want to play a part in the effort to bring educational equity to my city.
It’s not a done deal. I still have to get through the interview, and I need to convince them that Oakland is the right place for me. But I am going to be working hard over the next couple of weeks to make sure that I am prepared to make a strong case. Wish me luck!