Increasing Black And Latino Teachers In Chicago

Chicago Public Schools are facing a shortage of Black and Latino educators. Teachers are not mirroring the demographics of their classrooms.According to CPS CEO Janice Jackson, Black and Brown children make up nearly 90% of students in CPS, but half of the teachers are white. 

In October, CPS announced the Teach Chicago Tomorrow initiative in order to combat the lack of Black and Latino educators. The program has partnered with the City of Chicago Colleges and Illinois State University and aims to aid Black and Latino students in Chicago to become educators in CPS. After students earn their associate degree through City of Colleges, they can enter the bachelor’s degree program from Illinois State University. Following a year of student teaching and receiving their Illinois’ teaching license, CPS has promised graduates jobs in its schools. The program is set to launch next year. 

The 21st spoke to the Executive Director Executive Director for the National Center for Urban Education, the Director of the Chicago Teacher Education Pipeline at Illinois State University and Illinois State University Graduate and 2nd Grade Teacher at Arthur Dixon Elementary to hear more.

Guests:

Maria Luisa Zamudio, Ph.D., Executive Director Executive Director for the National Center for Urban Education (NCUE)

Jennifer O' Malley, Director of the Chicago Teacher Education Pipeline at Illinois State University 

Daniel Jackson, Illinois State University Graduate and 2nd Grade Teacher at Arthur Dixon Elementary

Prepared for web by Zainab Qureshi

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