via Pexels
Time and again, studies prove that children perform exceptionally well when they connect to the educator leading their lessons.
This knowledge, coupled with a teacher shortage AND a diversity problem, caused the Pennsylvania state school district and other officials to panic.
In a bold move, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced it is backing a pilot program called Aspire To Educate, whose mission is to recruit, train and retain talented Black professionals for appointments at the head of the state’s classrooms.
If they’re aiming to flood the hallways with more Black educators, these strong incentives could help.
Most would-be instructors face challenges such as a lack of financial assistance, mentorship, and job availability when seeking to enter the profession or make a mid-career change.
Aspire To Educate addresses these issues head on by offering potential educators free or reduced tuition costs through partnerships with community colleges and private universities like Temple, Drexel, and West Chester.
Other supports include after-school, summer, and early college courses for the 20 soon-to-be selected high school juniors and seniors interested in education careers. Preferential hiring consideration upon graduation is even on the table!
All this in hopes of securing more inspiring role models for Black children to connect with when the school bell rings. The outcomes look promising if this stellar initiative catches on across the nation.