New press release out on our partnership with Educate Me to issue teacher scholarships to promote diversity in teaching!
LOCAL GROUP TO ATTRACT UNDERREPRESENTED STEM TEACHERS, IMPROVE STUDENT PERFORMANCE
Educate ME to partner with other state and national groups to diversify teacher talent pool.
(Indianapolis, January 29, 2020) The Educate ME Foundation, Inc., an Indianapolis-based social enterprise has announced a partnership with three organizations to grow and diversify the teacher talent pool in K-12 STEM education in Indianapolis. The partnership, which includes Indiana Teachers of Tomorrow, Relay Graduate School of Education and Teach For America Indianapolis will establish new methods of engagement and development to facilitate more men and women of color entering the K through 12 STEM education space. Educate ME will also provide $1000 scholarships and retention support for STEM candidates of color participating in the certification program. “We hope that investing in this important partnership will mean building and strengthening a diverse teacher pipeline for our community,” cited Dean Dr. Carlotta Cooprider of Relay Indianapolis.
According to Dave Saba, of Indiana Teachers of Tomorrow, “One of the greatest shortages affecting our schools is the shortage of teachers of color. We have created a program that will help recruit, prepare and certify teachers of color; and to have a partnership where teachers can receive financial help is absolutely critical for meeting the goal of ensuring that every child has a great teacher.”
Research suggests that minority students receiving instruction from a teacher of color at some point in their educational journey has a positive impact on their learning experience. In classrooms where the teachers shared their students’ race or identity, 66 percent of teachers held higher expectations for their students; leading up to 4.6 months of academic growth for the students. According to the 2018 Opportunity Myth report, high expectations and teachers sharing the race or identity of the students also increases the likelihood of students being tracked into high ability programming, decreases the number of disciplinary infractions and leads to higher graduation rates.
“The partnership with these great, forward-thinking organizations will enable us to foster a more diverse teacher population in STEM education by assisting aspiring young men and women of color in their pursuit of becoming a teacher, with the goal of closing the achievement and opportunity gaps that currently exists for too many students of color,” cited Educate ME founder and CEO, Blake Nathan.
To join the Educate ME movement or to receive more information about participating in this groundbreaking program, call 317-426-1590 or email info@educatemefoundation.org.
For interviews the media is invited to contact Blake Nathan at 317-426-1590.
