EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. (WLVT) - According to professors at East Stroudsburg University, only six percent of teachers in Pennsylvania are of color. Because of this, they are working to diversify the teacher workforce by getting students interested in the field.
“Imagine if the superintendent or the principal of the school came up and tapped you on the shoulder and said ‘you know what, I think you’d be an excellent teacher,’” said Dr. Terry Barry at ESU. “That would probably be very meaningful for you.”’
The U.S. Department of Education reported in the year 2024, children of color will make up 56 percent of the population nationwide. “There is a long-standing research base that will tell you that students are going to perform better academically, and succeed better academically, if they, simply, have a teacher in front of them - not every teacher - in front of them that looks like them,” said Dr. Barry.
The Future Teacher Bridge Program was created to identify juniors and seniors of color who are interested in teaching, and offer them support to take on the career. The high school students will be able to take a college introductory teaching course for free as a part of the program.
Dr. Beth Rajan Sockman at ESU said it’s important for students to see diversity throughout their education to help them succeed later in life. “That includes skin color. That can also include speech,” said Dr. Sockman. She said students need to feel some sort of connection with a teacher in order to achieve, especially at a young age.
The Future Teacher Bridge Program is expected to start in the fall. It will begin with 10 students selected from five school districts: Bethlehem, Pleasant Valley, Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg, and Pocono Mountain. Dr. Barry said when more grant money becomes available, the program will be able to expand.
