Projects: A Teacher's Diary

A Teacher's Diary 

In 2003 Jose Diaz was among 700 new teachers hired by the Philadelphia School District. Based on district trends there was a 50-50 chance he would be teaching in 3 years. Philadelphia had made teacher retention a priority, by implementing new programs including teacher coaches for each new hire.  

After being laid off from his job in Allentown, PA Diaz borrowed money from his 401K took out student loans and at the age of 44 returned to college to get his teaching certificate. He finished in the spring of 2003 and was hired as a biology and physical science teacher at Olney High School. The photographs are of his first year of teaching.