May 31, 2024
Teacher-led Recommendations to Retain Minnesota’s Diverse Educators
During the 2023-24 school year, 12 Minnesota educators came together to form a Teacher Action Team, or a group of educators committed to researching an education policy issue and proposing solutions.
Throughout the school year, the Teacher Action Team focused on developing recommendations for how the district, union, and state can improve its policies to retain teachers of color–a key pillar of E4E’s National Policy Agenda.
Research shows that teachers of color have significant positive social-emotional and academic impacts on all students, particularly students of color. Despite this, teachers of color are sorely underrepresented in the workforce: While people of color make up more than 50% of public school students, they comprise only around 20% of teachers.
Following a lot of research, several meetings, and countless meaningful conversations, the Minnesota Teacher Action Team highlighted three areas the district can focus on to help retain teachers of color:
- Mentorship
- Tiered Equity & Anti-Bias Training
- Safe Working Conditions
Additionally, the team proposed that the state can address its Safe and Sick Time Off Law and better infuse Culturally Responsive Teaching into its parent and teacher resources.
Check out the Teacher Action Team’s full recommendations
A special thank you to the Teacher Action Team members:
- La Shawn Hankton
- Michelle Urevig-Grilz
- Jenifer Shier
- Josefina Gerónimo
- Shanna Williams-Clark
- Susan Providence
- Kyarra Edmond
- Victor Piñon Flores
- Rhea O’Shion
- Tavarra Price
- Annie Erickson
- Ian Lyon
As a Minnesota educator, there are countless opportunities to join our growing movement, promote equity, and make your voice heard during the upcoming year. Want to learn more about getting involved? Reach out to a member of E4E-MN today!
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Teacher-led Recommendations to Retain Minnesota’s Diverse Educators