Jacob Murray and Jackie Jenkins-Scott wrote a commentary this week about the need for not only recruiting but retaining teachers of color: We Need Teachers of Color.  They included ideas from some current efforts to improve the approximately 30% gap nationwide between the number of students of color and teachers of color.  [In Oregon that gap is 27% according to our latest Statewide Report Card.]  Murray and Scott are part of a Wheelock College Aspire Institute initiative to support new teachers, “…by fostering supportive, culturally responsive work environments in collaboration with school principals; connecting them with retired educators of color who will serve as mentors; developing cross-school support networks to decrease isolation; and offering professional, leadership, and self-advocacy skills training.”

In citing advantages of closing the demographics gap, the authors stated, “These teachers can also serve in the role of cultural mediators and advocates, helping to counter negative stereotypes and strengthening a district’s human capital.”  While I don’t disagree with this, it is a heavy load to place on anyone, let alone new teachers.  Need a reminder about this?  Back in March, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights released data about racial inequality in American Public Schools.  Allyson Dean shared the following article with me last week: 14 Disturbing Stats About Racial Inequality in American Public Schools.  It is a very short and, yes, disturbing synopsis of that data.

In related news, American Promise—the film we brought to OSU last spring—is now available on DVD, Amazon Streaming, and in the Apple iTunes.  As a documentary spanning 13 years, it puts a human face on racial inequality that exists even for boys in financially stable, supportive, two-parent families who attend prestigious private schools.