Jeffrey Lee, a middle school educator, finds himself in a unique position as the sole Black male English teacher at his school. Located in the northwest of Philadelphia, the school caters to approximately 815 students.
“It can feel isolating. Sometimes, I can’t help but think of myself as the last dinosaur wandering this Earth,” Lee expressed. “I’ve had students tell me that I’m the first African American or male teacher of color they’ve ever encountered.”
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- 1 How Brown v. Board contributed to teacher diversity imbalance
- 2 Many other factors propel the teacher diversity imbalance
- 3 What’s needed to close the gap?
- 4 One method experiencing success
Seventy years have passed since a historic ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that banned racial segregation in public schools. However, Lee’s story highlights an ongoing issue in schools across the country: while students of color now constitute more than half of America’s student population, the representation of teachers and principals of color has not kept up with this demographic shift.
According to data analyzed by The New Teacher Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming education for students of color and those from low-income backgrounds, a significant number of public schools in the United States lack educators of color. In fact, nearly one-fourth of campuses across the country do not have any teachers from diverse racial backgrounds. This is particularly concerning considering that students of color make up the majority in these schools.
According to the analysis conducted by the nonprofit, only about one-fourth of the nation’s teachers identify as people of color. This underrepresentation of teachers from diverse backgrounds has been shown by scholars to hinder learning, particularly for students of color. Research indicates that students, regardless of their background, perform better academically when they have teachers who come from diverse backgrounds.
According to education experts who spoke with USA TODAY, the disparity in educational opportunities can be attributed to a variety of factors. They explained that this imbalance is a result of the legacy and unintended consequences of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling.
How Brown v. Board contributed to teacher diversity imbalance
On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court made a landmark ruling, declaring that the practice of segregating children in public schools based on their race was fundamentally unfair and contravened the right to Equal Protection as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.
The civil rights movement achieved a significant victory by banning segregation in schools. However, this decision sparked anger among Southern white leaders, school superintendents, parents, and various other individuals.
According to Education Week, prior to the landmark ruling of Brown v. Board, Black teachers comprised a significant portion, ranging from 35 to 50 percent, of the teaching workforce in the 17 states with segregated school systems. However, following the decision, a cascade of consequences ensued. Black schools shut down, resulting in the displacement of thousands of Black educators from the field. Unfortunately, this led to the hiring of less-qualified white teachers to fill the void, as highlighted by Leslie Fenwick, the dean emerita of the Howard University School of Education and a professor of education policy, in a Politico op-ed.
According to Tequilla Brownie, CEO of the nonprofit organization The New Teacher Project, the decrease in the number of Black educators in the workforce was an unintended result of the ruling.
“Our nation’s current lack of diversity among educators can be directly traced back to the impact of the landmark case, Brown v. Board,” stated Brownie. “This pivotal ruling not only affected the composition of our school system and its demographics, but it also had profound consequences for Black communities and families. Educators of color played a crucial role in fostering the growth of the middle class within these communities.”
After the 1947 ruling of Mendez vs. Westminster, which declared the segregation of Mexican American and white students as unconstitutional, diversity in the workforce became more limited for Latino educators. This ruling served as a precedent for the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education, as highlighted by the Zinn Education Project, a collaboration between Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change.
The impact of both cases would resonate for decades to come.
Many other factors propel the teacher diversity imbalance
According to experts, there are several factors that have limited access to the workforce for teachers of color. These factors have made it difficult for them to enter the profession, sustain their careers as educators, or have even forced them out of the field.
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- Teacher layoffs : Schools are laying off teachers en masse as they prepare to lose COVID-19 funding in the fall. Many schools hired educators of color in recent years who work at schools with “last in, first out” policies where the last teachers hired are laid off will be cut from their roles. (The financial cliff is expected to affect students of color and students of low-income communities most, research from the national nonprofit the Brookings Institution shows.)
- Burnout and frustration : Over the last several years, some teachers of color have left the profession , citing burnout and low morale, pandemic-related stressors and a toxic climate amid political attacks on schools. Educators and education leaders of color conveyed to Sharhonda Bossier, CEO of Education Leaders of Color , that they are also worried about school safety issues, such as shootings and increased misbehavior among kids.
- Financial concerns : Low pay , costly teacher training programs and difficult exams have prevented people of color interested in teaching from entering the workforce, several education experts told USA TODAY.
- A lack of representation in leadership roles : U.S. schools face a pipeline issue, said Jean Desravines, CEO of New Leaders, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to train and develop “transformational, equity-minded” school leaders. Teachers of color are being blocked from leadership roles, which means they’re missing the chance to lift up others , Desravines said.
- Diversity, equity and inclusion program cuts : Conservative lawmakers passed measures requiring schools to axe their diversity, equity and inclusion programs which resulted in educators of color being cut from those jobs .
What’s needed to close the gap?
According to an analysis of federal data from the 2017-2018 school year, American schools would need to hire approximately 1 million teachers of color and 30,000 leaders of color in order to bridge the gap. The analysis, which was published by the One Million Teachers of Color Campaign, was created by a consortium of education organizations that advocate for an increase in teacher diversity.
Education experts have highlighted several strategies for enhancing access to opportunities for educators of color, emphasizing collaboration between the federal government, states, and schools.
One potential solution would involve altering the way schools handle layoffs. Instead of adhering to “last in, first out” policies, which can result in the dismissal of recently hired teachers of color when funding diminishes, there is a call to eliminate this approach.
States could explore various funding options to support initiatives aimed at recruiting teachers of color. One such approach is the implementation of “grow your own” programs, which provide incentives for paraprofessionals to become teachers at the schools where they are currently employed. This not only encourages diversity in the teaching workforce but also helps to retain talented individuals within the same community.
Additionally, districts could allocate funds for teacher residencies, allowing individuals with a bachelor’s degree to teach alongside experienced educators. This immersive experience provides aspiring teachers with the opportunity to gain practical classroom experience while working towards their certification. Furthermore, fellowships and apprenticeships can be established to support individuals seeking alternative pathways to becoming teachers.
By investing in these programs, states and districts can actively address the underrepresentation of teachers of color in our education system, ultimately fostering a more diverse and inclusive learning environment for all students.
Encouraging young people to pursue a teaching career with low-paying jobs could potentially worsen the racial wealth gap, according to Bossier. She herself left her teaching position years ago, partly due to the earning disparity she observed among her colleagues. During her time as a teacher, she even had to work as a waitress to supplement her income. Therefore, one possible solution to address this imbalance is to provide better compensation for teachers.
According to Desravines, investing in the recruitment, training, and hiring of school leaders from diverse backgrounds would be beneficial. These leaders would be more inclined to hire, promote, and support teachers who share similar demographics with their students.
According to Education Department Secretary Miguel Cardona, there is a readily available funding source for increasing diversity in the teaching workforce. Cardona has consistently urged states to utilize COVID-19 funds to address this issue. Several states have already made investments in the teacher pipeline to bridge these gaps in recent years. However, the availability of funds is diminishing, leaving the future success of these initiatives uncertain.
One method experiencing success
Fontae Smith shared that his decision to pursue a teaching role was greatly influenced by the Black male teachers he encountered during his own schooling. Currently, he finds himself in a unique situation as one of the few Black male educators at his current school, mirroring Lee’s experience at the middle school in Pennsylvania.
“It spreads rapidly,” Smith exclaimed.
There is a surprising reason behind the absence of Black teachers in many schools.
