We all know that a teacher’s instructional skills matter for students. But a growing body of research shows that their background and life experience matter, too. This is especially important for students of color: while all kids are more likely to thrive with diverse teachers, students of color with teachers of the same race are less likely to be suspended, more likely to be referred to gifted programs, and more likely to complete high school and go on to college. Our own research has found that teachers of color have higher expectations for students of color—and that those higher expectations correlate with more learning.
Yet in most states, there is a huge diversity gap between students and teachers. Nationally, 53% of students are people of color, yet 80% of teachers are white. And 40% of all public schools don’t have a single teacher of color. In my case, the first teacher I had who looked like me—Ms. Blue in 7th grade—was also the last.
This trend is likely to continue thanks to the lack of diversity in teacher preparation programs—especially traditional schools of education. Data from the U.S. Education Department shows that almost three-quarters of teacher candidates in traditional education schools are white. Colleges and CONTINUE READING: Don't Talk About The Need For More Diverse Teachers. Show Us What You're Gonna Do About It - Philly's 7th Ward