Written by Megan Eme, BLU Educational Foundation
Although I am now the Communications Specialist at BLU Educational Foundation, growing up my dream job was to be a teacher. I achieved this dream with my first job as a middle school teacher in Detroit, Michigan.
If you know anything about middle school, it’s tough so I wanted to make sure I was as prepared as possible. I made sure to read all the relevant books, take as many professional development classes as I could, and build a supportive and culturally relevant classroom.
I was an extremely competent teacher as both an expert in my subject matter was able to connect with students on a very personal level and YET I knew I would never be able to be the best possible teacher for my students.
Why? 100% of my students identified as African American and after some time I realized no matter the relationships I had built with them, not being able to relate to their experiences as Black children was a deficit to me as an educator.
After leaving teaching, my students never left my heart, and the issue of teacher diversity never left my mind.
A majority of teachers in the United States are white women, like myself. Black teachers only represent 7% of the teacher workforce despite Black students making up a much higher percentage of the student population.
Imagine never having a teacher that looks like you? It is so important that students have teachers who can relate to them on a personal and cultural level.
The issue of teacher diversity is not just important for Black students, but ALL students.
Research shows that regardless of race, having a Black teacher improves test scores, reduces chronic absenteeism, and enhances engagement across the board.
That is why increasing representation in the education system is not just important, but necessary.
At BLU Educational Foundation we believe that increasing teacher diversity starts at the student level. It’s difficult to imagine yourself in a career where you don’t have many examples of people who look like you doing that job.
BLU’s Black Educator Pipeline not only provides a supportive pathway towards a career in education for Black Students, but also makes sure to introduce these students to Black educators already doing the work.
If you know a high school or college student who would benefit from joining BLU’s Black Educator Pipeline, I invite you to share our help link with them and get them connected with our educator pipeline and other career development opportunities.
Help be a part of forming the future face of education in our region and beyond.
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This story was developed through IEHP Foundation’s Inaugural Storytelling for Fundraising and Advocacy Cohort.