Why Teacher Turnover is a Big Charter School Concern - Yoav Gonen

Yoav Gonen returns to Capture Your Flag to build upon his 2009 interview with a 2010 conversation with host Erik Michielsen. In Chapter 16 of 17, Gonen, a New York Post education reporter, shares why teacher turnover is a central issue in the charter school debate. He highlights how many charters rely on highly motivated, energetic young teachers coming from Teach for America. Their commitment is several years in length and charter schools, who tend to have longer work hours and school terms than public schools, tend to burnout the young teachers. Gonen highlights a New Orleans charter school experiencing burnout, but cautions that charter schools require a longer trial - 5 to 10 years longer - to assess teaching sustainability and turnover issues. Before starting his New York City newspaper reporting career, Gonen earned his BA in English from the University of Michigan and his Masters in Journalism from New York University.