"They just have a heavier influence being around people that looks like you," said Deshon Johnson, Butler College Prep senior, the school is located on Chicago's South Side.
"We need our students to have role models. We need opportunities for them to see themselves represented in the classroom," said Carolyn Theard-Griggs, Chicago State University College of Education Dean.Black teachers have the lowest retention rate of any racial group in the state, with 81 percent staying in their schools compared to 87 percent overall.
To better support Black teachers, Chicago area districts said recruitment is key. But they're competing for a limited number of Black educators entering their profession, and Black male teachers are harder to find, they said. Illinois's largest school system, Chicago Public Schools, is keeping its Black teachers at a rate of 80 percent. That's on par with the retention rate for all school districts combined for Black teachers.
"I saw that through coaching and mentoring, I was having a positive effect on my students," he said."So I thought, how could I reach more students?"program for Black and brown male education students. The program offers tuition assistance and mentoring.
Jus grab a few “colored” people off the street and offer them teaching positions. That’s all we’re really going for right, color, not qualifications or applications