PSESD and the Road Map Superintendents are excited to announce that enrollment is open for the Educators of Color Leadership Community! Teacher diversity is a critical issue in the ESD 121 region, as well as across Washington State and nationwide. The Educators of Color Leadership Community (ECLC) is a program designed to support and retain our teachers of color through community building, culturally responsive mentoring and coaching, and professional development.
Why is the ECLC Important? +
A diverse teaching pool is critical to our mission of eliminating the opportunity gap :
- Having teachers of color leads to strong educational outcomes for all students, particularly students of color.
- Teachers of color serve as positive role models that encourage persistence, resilience and the possibility of attaining college education or professional careers to students of color; and challenge stereotypes about the potential of people of color for all students, thereby better preparing them to succeed in a diverse world. (http://m.cedr.us/papers/working/CEDR%20WP%202015-9.pdf)
- All students benefit from having teachers of color, leading to better academic outcomes, regardless of race.
- Research tells us that retention for teachers of color is lower than it is for their white counterparts, due to a variety of factors. Research also tells us that teachers of color benefit from supports that value their “cultural resources” (their life experiences and connections to communities of color), from mentoring and professional development that honors their unique perspectives, and from having connections to colleagues that share their experiences and motivations to teach. (Achinstein, Ogawa & Sexton, 2010)
How Will the ECLC Support Teachers of Color? +
What to Expect as an ECLC Participant or Supporting Administrator +
Sept. 28: 8:30-12:30: Half-day orientation for Teacher and Principals
October 19: 8:30-12:30: Half-day orientation for Teacher and Principals
NOTE: You only need to attend ONE half-day orientation session!
Oct. 31: 8:30-3
Jan. 23 : 8:30-3
March 1 8:30-3
May 15: 8:30-3
Teachers will be expected to:
- Obtain the support of their principal and district
- Attend all ECLC sessions
- Develop a plan to interact with Mentors as recommended in the orientation session
- Develop a plan to share their experiences with ECLC with their principal
- Provide feedback about their experiences to PSESD in order to share with district leadership about needs of teachers of color in our region.
Principals will be expected to :
- Attend a half-day orientation session on Sept. 28 to learn about the goals of the program and participate in professional learning about supporting teachers of color
- Meet with their participant as requested to learn about their experiences and to strategize for their continued growth and support.
- Provide feedback about their experiences to PSESD in order to share with district leadership about needs of teachers of color in our region.
Selected References for More Information and Research About Teacher of Color Retention +