Diversity in Schools: The Call for Diverse Educators

In a nation that is growing increasingly diverse, the call for diverse educators is more important than ever. According to a 2021 report by the National Center for Education Statistics, eighty percent of teachers in American public schools identified as White. Only nine percent identified as Hispanic, six percent as Black, two percent as Asian, and less than one percent as American Indian/Alaska Native. Meanwhile, as of the 2020–2021 school year, White students in American elementary and secondary schools made up forty-five percent of the student population. One percent of students identified as American Indian/Alaska Native, five percent as Asian, five percent as biracial, fifteen percent as Black, and twenty-eight percent as Hispanic. These diversity statistics demonstrate the disproportionate ratio of diverse teachers to diverse students. Most of the American teacher workforce is White, while most American students are from racially diverse backgrounds, suggesting that the workforce isn’t keeping up with these changing demographics.?

The importance of diverse educators is only amplified by research that confirms the positive social-emotional and behavioral outcomes associated with diversity in the classroom. When teachers and students share similar cultural experiences and values, they reach a higher level of understanding with one another. A 2018 study asked students across six districts all over the United States to explain whether having a demographically similar teacher impacted their feelings of happiness in class, their personal effort, their sense of being cared for by their teacher, and more. The study found that students with demographically similar teachers reported higher levels of happiness within their classroom environments and a higher level of interest in the curriculum. Similarly, diverse students assigned to diverse teachers reported higher interest levels in attending college, using their teacher as a role model. Demographically similar teachers may be “more likely to encourage students or serve as mentors to students with whom they share similar backgrounds.” These findings suggest that diverse teachers have positive social-emotional impacts on their students, including making their diverse students feel more welcome and content in the classroom, as well as serving as personal role models. On the other hand, a lack of diversity in the classroom is likely to flip these effects and lead to a decreased sense of belonging and comfort for diverse students.?

Academically, teacher diversity can be critical to student success. A 2010 study based in Tennessee used data from all the state’s public schools to determine whether teacher diversity impacts test scores. Students scored “significantly higher” on end-of-year standardized reading and math tests when they had a demographically similar teacher, emphasizing the importance of shared culture in the classroom. Three North Carolina studies, a Florida study, and a Texas study found similar results across elementary, middle, and high schools. Diverse educators can help decrease the racial achievement gap and create a more equitable learning environment, one that also promotes the success of diverse students. The current racial mismatch is detrimental to students of color in many ways, but it is especially detrimental academically.

Including diverse educators and perspectives in the classroom is important for all students. Exposure to different points of views and experiences can help students better understand people who are different from them, including learning about the unique challenges that minority communities face. Cognitively, students can acquire a new wealth of knowledge about other cultures, ethnicities, and races. Socially, learning about other groups can help students combat their own prejudices and develop cultural responsiveness . This skill can help students navigate life as they inevitably encounter people who are different from them, whether that is in higher education, the workplace, or everyday life.?

In the ever-changing landscape of American schools, diversity is more essential than ever.

References

Carver-Thomas, Desiree. “Diversifying the Teaching Profession: How to Recruit and Retain Teachers of Color.” Learning Policy Institute, 2016. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/diversifying-teaching-profession-report .

Egalite, Anna J., and Brian Kisida. “The Effects of Teacher Match on Students’ Academic Perceptions and Attitudes.” Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis 40, no. 1 (June 16, 2017): 59–81. https://doi.org/10.3102/0162373717714056 .

Lindsay, Constance A. “Teacher Diversity and Student Success.” State Education Standard 21, no. 3 (September 1, 2021): 16. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1315355 .

National Center for Education Statistics. “COE - Characteristics of Public School Teachers.” nces.ed.gov , May 2021. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/clr/public-school-teachers .

National Center for Education Statistics. “COE - Racial/Ethnic Enrollment in Public Schools,” May 2023. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cge/racial-ethnic-enrollment#:~:text=Between%20fall%202010%20and%20fall .