Retention supports for teachers of color: networking platforms, safe spaces, mental health resources, race-conscious mentorship, and flexible career pathways¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

Design Studio retention solutions include a networking platform connecting teachers of color, safe spaces to address racism, mental health resources, mentorship pairing that accounts for race, and diverse career pathways allowing advancement while staying in the classroom. One solution argued 'School Districts will see less TOC turnover and/or burnout by providing resources and professional development specifically to support their self-care and mental health.'

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Mentor pairings must account for the experiences of new teachers of color, not just subject taught or availability
• Policies addressing emotional challenges with the same systemic-level policies as other workplace hazards, including paid time off

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• teachers of color, especially in majority-white schools

Target Learning Goals¶

• reducing turnover and burnout
• career advancement

Affordances¶

• Inclusive Innovation Approach Toc

Claims¶

Related Strategies¶

• District lessons for launching teacher-of-color support initiatives: safe space, clear goals, buy-in, and relationship time
• Diverse hiring committees and intentional recruitment practices including HBCU/MSI outreach and higher-education partnerships
• Grow-your-own teacher training programs targeting community members facing certification and career-change barriers
• Reduce barriers for diverse early childhood credential candidates through cost subsidies, flexible course logistics, cohort community, outreach, and specialized advising
• Build diverse school leader pipelines through HBCU/HSI preparation partnerships, transparent diversity data, equitable hiring supports, affinity networks, and Grow Your Own teacher pathways

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Inclusive Innovation: Increasing Recruitment and Retention of Teachers of Color — Summation of Digital Promise Design Studios with Teachers of Color. (2021). Digital Promise. https://digitalpromise.org/inclusive-innovation/