New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Expanded program encourages teachers of color in classroom
Hoping to increase the number of students, particularly those of color, to consider teaching as a career, state officials on Tuesday announced the expansion of a program they say is showing promising results in
New Britain. The Educators Rising Academy is being expanded to 10 districts, including Danbury, Stamford, Hamden and New Haven, Gov. Ned Lamont and Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona announced in a noontime press conference. “Numerous studies have shown that students of color do better in school when they have teachers of color in the classroom,” Lamont said in a prepared statement. “However, our state has overwhelming disparities and should be doing more to ensure diversity in our schools, including among faculty. “All students should have access to positive teaching and learning experiences so they can be prepared for the global workforce that awaits them,” he said. “Expanding this program to more school districts across the state is a direct investment in the classroom and in student success.” Lamont said great school systems depend on great teachers.
“And having teachers that look like you is really important,” Lamont said. The program essentially involves a class and a club that helps cultivate an interest in teaching. Cardona said that by providing such support and experiences at a young age, candidates will have the backing they need to become highly effective educators. “As a student and educator, I have had mentors who motivated me to continue my passion for learning and teaching to engage students in a meaningful way,” Cardona said.
Cardona said the expansion of Educators
Rising can be a game changer to advance culturally responsive educational practices and address the statewide gap between educators and students of color so the workforce better reflects the diversity of the students they serve.
The Educators Rising program includes curriculum, teacher training and microcredentials for teachers in training. It was developed by PDK International. The new Connecticut initiative will be funded by a one-year $250,000 grant from the Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation. In 2019-20, only 9.6 percent of Connecticut’s teacher workforce were educators of color while more than 45 percent of the state’s students identify as people of color. Numerous studies have suggested that students of color do better with teachers who look like they do. More than half of participants in Educators Rising are students of color.
New Britain Schools implemented the program three years ago. More than 100 students have gone through the program. Joining them now will be a yet-to-be-determined number of students from Stamford, Hamden, Meriden, Hartford, New London, Danbury, New Haven, Waterbury and Windsor. The program will also be expanded to the collegiate level with the help of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain.
High school students interested in pursuing a career in teaching through the program can enroll in a CCSU education course at no charge and earn credits toward their degree before starting college. The idea is that after going through the program, participants will come back to their districts and teach. It is expected 100 or more students could participate in the program across the 10 districts,