As charter schools in the Cleveland area grew, the racial diversity of its teachers did not match its population. That’s the finding of a new study by the Shanker Institute that looked at Cleveland teacher diversity between 2000 and 2011. The liberal-leaning education think tank found that the percentage of black teachers at Cleveland charter schools declined even as those schools increased hiring. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers says there needs to be more investment in teacher training programs across the country.
"We have to incentivize the collaboration between colleges of education and district and charter networks. So we create not just a pipeline but a mentoring program, an induction program, teacher residency programs. Really having that kind of connection." Weingarten said.
Weingarten also recommends investing in teacher training at minority colleges including historically black universities and tribal colleges. She adds that minority children are better served when they have educator role models who look like them.
