2021 High Aims Summer Institute

All students benefit from being taught by a teaching force that is more representative of the world's racial and cultural diversity. Studies show that teacher diversity especially corresponds with higher academic achievement and social emotional supports for students of color. Although teaching has become more diverse in the U.S. over the past 30 years (20 percent teachers of color), the profession is nowhere near alignment with the diversity of the U.S. population (40 percent people of color) or the population of students in school (50 percent students of color). Furthermore, teachers of color have a higher turnover rate than White teachers and the number of Black and Native American teachers is actually declining. What are the barriers to recruiting and retaining Black and Brown teachers? How can districts create more supportive hiring practices and pathways to teaching? What are the working conditions that influence whether a teacher of color stays or leaves? How can school leaders be more responsive to needs and challenges once teachers are on the job?