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It’s no secret that there is a shortage of K-12 teachers overall. However, the lack of Black educators in the pipeline has lasted even longer and is especially concerning. When children have role models who look like them, who come from their culture and share their experiences, they tend to make a stronger connection with the teacher and the value of their education.

Because of decades of decline in the number of Black teachers, schools need to make concerted efforts to attract Black youth to the profession. During the edLeader Panel “Building a Diverse Teacher Pipeline: Expanding Pathways for High School Students to Become Educators,” representatives from the Center for Black Educator Development gave their insights into attracting and keeping Black educators.

First, school leaders must understand what led to the initial decline of Black teachers. After Brown v. Board of Education, schools were integrated at the student level, but Black teachers were often not wanted. In addition, Black teachers typically could not get into many of the teacher colleges and had fewer options for training. Thus, there was no room for role models to inspire young Black students to become educators themselves.

Second, the goals for education have seemingly changed. In the beginning, education was about training the next generation to become stewards of the future. Now, though, many see education as a means to a degree and the money it can bring. As the education field has a notorious pay inequity, as well as a lack of respect and support from the community, it’s not going to attract students focused on their future earnings. Moreover, many who are first-generation college students feel a responsibility to pursue a degree with a wage that can help them support their families.

Finally, Black educators often have additional expectations placed on them in the classroom. For example, Black male teachers might be thrust into the role of surrogate father to any Black boys in their classroom—even if the students don’t want it. They may also be given those deemed the “problem” children, with the inference that they can handle them. Teacher training, though, doesn’t prepare these teachers well enough, and they often burn out from the pressure and responsibilities.

The panelists offered four strategies that could have a profound impact on increasing the number of Black educators.

1. Provide quality teacher preparation: Besides the focus on pedagogy and developing curricula, education programs must provide teachers with additional training for the social-emotional needs of their students. And once these teachers are in the classroom, their administration needs to provide ongoing professional development and support for these issues.
2. Make teaching a viable, exciting profession in students’ eyes: Schools and communities need to become advocates for their teachers rather than tearing them down. Schools should share success stories, highlighting the importance of their teachers and the role they play in shaping students. Administrators and community leaders should also be changing the conversation around education as a vehicle for equality and transformation for society.
3. Reframe the conversations had in school about student performance and potential: A lot of attention is paid to how certain demographics are—or aren’t—performing, but reducing kids to statistics doesn’t take into account individual challenges or successes. In order to get kids excited about becoming teachers, they first need to value the school experience. After all, why would kids want to go into a profession that doesn’t value them? Schools should have the philosophy that all students can learn. Even if they don’t reach every goal, the students should be celebrated for how far they have come.
4. Get students involved in education training programs: Teaching is supposed to be a transformative experience, and the best way for students to get excited about that is for them to do it. Programs like the Teaching Academy from the Center for Black Educator Development show students the impact they would have if they go into the field. In the Teaching Academy, students get to shift between student and educator and find out what it means to drive the learning for another person. It’s also a dual-enrollment program, giving students college credit as well as driving down their overall bill, since they won’t have to take as many classes. Students also often get support as they transition to their own classroom, which helps with retention.

There are also some smaller steps that schools and fellow teachers can take to support Black educators. One suggestion is to give them a place where they can talk with each other across schools and districts. Next, analyze the teacher data and talk with the administration about how it does and does not reflect the demographics of the students. Help educate them on the importance of representation. Finally, teachers can do their own reading and research to support their career and their colleagues.

Learn more about this edWeb broadcast, Building a Diverse Teacher Pipeline: Expanding Pathways for High School Students to Become Educators, sponsored by Center for Black Educator Development (CBED).

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Career, Technical, and Adult Education is a free professional learning community where educators, community leaders, and other stakeholders can share information about helping students and adults acquire the academic and technical skills needed for high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand occupations in the 21st century economy.

The Center for Black Educator Development (CBED) is dedicated to advancing educational equity by rebuilding the national Black teacher pipeline. Through innovative programs like the Teaching Academy, CBED creates pathways for high school students, particularly those from underserved communities, to pursue careers in education. By focusing on teacher diversification and fostering a culture of academic excellence, CBED works to ensure that students, especially those of color, have educators who reflect their identities and can serve as role models. CBED also offers professional learning opportunities, advocacy, and policy initiatives aimed at reshaping the future of education. With a commitment to education equity, CBED is empowering the next generation of Black educators to make lasting change in their communities and beyond.

Article by Stacey Pusey, based on this edLeader Panel