Relentless Pursuit

Starred review from April 15, 2008
After a mere five weeks of training, four Teach for America recruits are air-dropped into one of the toughest schools in one of the worst public school districts in the nation, Locke High School in South Central Los Angeles, to do battle against illiteracy, racial and gang violence, low expectations, and teacher apathy. Journalist Foote chronicles the experiences of Rachelle, Phillip, Hrag, and Taylor as they confront the complexities behind those factors and journey through trials and triumphs, along with the usual phases of teaching, including disillusionment and rejuvenation. Foote also takes a broader look at TFA, created in 1990, as a phenomenal nonprofit enterprise and as a catalyst in the national debate on educational reform. She traces how TFA has grown and evolved, just as she traces the individual growth of the four recruits. Facing skepticismfrom their colleagues and their own self-doubts, the recruits find they need more than TFAs mantra of relentless pursuit of results and the ego boost that comes with being among the select 2,500 of 20,000 applicants the organization takes on each year. They also discover the efficacy of TFAs objective: that beyond their two-year commitment, they would remain committed in other ways throughout their lives to the mission of educational equity. A candid and completely fascinating look at a daring enterprise and the individuals behind it.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)