One criticism leveled by opponents of the Teach for America (TFA) program is that many TFA teachers quit after their initial, two-year commitment has expired.

Well, that’s apparently not so in Floyd County’s public schools. The Floyd County Times reports that all the TFA teachers in that school system are staying on. It’s great news for the students and the schools. It is also a credit to Floyd County that it moved beyond prejudice to make these well-qualified young teachers feel welcome and appreciated.

If you have not heard of Teach for America, this program, recruits a diverse group of students with strong academic performance from top colleges around the country. These students are interested in teaching but have not participated in standard college teacher preparation courses. TFA gives these entering teachers special training in the art of teaching and then places them in low-income community schools across the country.

Kentucky came fairly late to the TFA party, in part due to resistance from certain reactionary elements within the traditionally trained teacher corps here who are apparently threatened by the TFA model. However, the Bluegrass State is now benefitting from TFA’s presence. And, it looks like the TFA teachers like what they are doing here, too.