We need more teachers of color. Getting there requires ambitious equitable solutions - Philly's 7th Ward

We need more teachers of color. Getting there requires ambitious equitable solutions - Philly's 7th Ward

WE NEED MORE TEACHERS OF COLOR. GETTING THERE REQUIRES AMBITIOUS EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS

When Marie Lewis applied to the Nashville Teacher Residency (NTR), she was earning $18,000 per year as a paraprofessional, supporting students with special needs, one-on-one or in small groups.

To make ends meet, she also worked over the summers and during school breaks at a child care center, earning $10.25 per hour.  A single Black mother of two, Marie loved children and knew she wanted to be a teacher, but couldn’t afford to pay for a licensure program, which can cost $30,000 or more at local universities for a degree and license. 

Lewis loved the work and the difference she felt she could make in children’s lives, but the way things were going, neither her dreams nor her potential were going to be realized.

Sadly, her story isn’t unusual. Such lack of opportunity disproportionately affects people of color at a time when we are facing a national teaching CONTINUE READING: We need more teachers of color. Getting there requires ambitious equitable solutions - Philly's 7th Ward

Support Illinois SB 808. Oppose edTPA and teacher prep privatization. Is the IEA really lobbying against this bill? – Fred Klonsky

Support Illinois SB 808. Oppose edTPA and teacher prep privatization. Is the IEA really lobbying against this bill? – Fred Klonsky

SUPPORT ILLINOIS SB 808. OPPOSE EDTPA AND TEACHER PREP PRIVATIZATION. IS THE IEA REALLY LOBBYING AGAINST THIS BILL?

Senate Bill 808 has passed the Illinois Senate and has gone on to the House where State Representative Will Guzzardi from my 39th district is the chief House sponsor.

It appears that SB 808, which would end the video taping and the violation of student privacy rights has the support of most legislators.

House Ed Committee members are Sue Scherer, Fred Crespo, Thomas Morrison*, Avery Bourne, Eva Dina Delgado, Anne Moeller, Delia Ramirez, Joe Sosnowski*.

*Republicans who have CONTINUE READING: Support Illinois SB 808. Oppose edTPA and teacher prep privatization. Is the IEA really lobbying against this bill? – Fred Klonsky

What's "Woke" And What's "Whack" About How Teachers Are Being Prepared? - Philly's 7th Ward

What's "Woke" And What's "Whack" About How Teachers Are Being Prepared? - Philly's 7th Ward

WHAT’S “WOKE” AND WHAT’S “WHACK” ABOUT HOW TEACHERS ARE BEING PREPARED?

Effective teachers can change and save lives, but being a great teacher is hard.

The challenge is especially acute in our high-poverty, under-resourced public schools where teacher tenure is lowest. Black and brown students are twice as likely to attend one of these schools than their white peers. As nearly 80 percent of teachers are white, our newest educators often find  themselves in a very different cultural context for the first time.

The result is often a gross underestimation of Black and Brown students’ academic abilities, misunderstanding and an inability to cope with what teachers perceive as “problem behavior”. This “culture shock” and racial bias drives many teachers out of schools educating Black and brown children as they escape to lower-poverty, whiter schools.  

Many white teachers are clearly not adequately prepared to teach Black and Brown students. Our students are paying the price for the failures of our teacher-preparation programs. Changes to these programs that result in better education for Black and brown students are long overdue.

The solution is threefold. Our teacher preparation programs must engender cultural fluency; equip teachers with the skills to actually teach Black and CONTINUE READING: What's "Woke" And What's "Whack" About How Teachers Are Being Prepared? - Philly's 7th Ward