Ep. 43: We’re in the Fire: On Teacher Diversity & Genuine Equity

EQ: What role does teacher training play in the health of our schools and the future of the teaching profession?

Guest: Tamar Krames, 2006 MIT grad, Art/ELL teacher, OSPI, currently adjunct faculty for the Master’s in Teaching at Evergreen State College

The journey to teaching is different for everyone and our amazing guest Tamar focuses on what it means to have a transnational perspectives. We discuss the relationship between literacy and language, then transition to the problem of lack of “teacher diversity.” Tamar challenges us and our listeners to expand the way we think about this and the way that all CURRENT teachers can strive to address the issue of representation (we can add books, artwork, and broaden curriculum choice). She also reminds us that teacher diversity isn’t just race, but also about language (English) supremacy (but one way to “write and think smart”) and additional intersecting oppressions that keep amazing people out of the profession. Systemically, we need to consider who is seen as an expert and make our schools places that teachers want to stay (teacher of color retention).

We transition to the role of teacher prep programs in diversifying the field, supporting culturally responsive teaching practices, and the unspoken assumptions that being a person of color means you’d be able to work cross-culturally. There are programs intentionally working to recruit and support teachers of color. Some reading:

States to Prioritize Hiring Teachers of Color

Puget Sound School Districts Trying to Recruit

The Martinez Foundation

Guilty Favesies:

Annie: vegan milkshakes

Tamar: Star Trek

Hope: Hi-Chews

Do Your Fudging Homework:

Annie: One Teacher in 10 by Kevin Jennings

Hope: Jankanish article & rebuttal

Tamar: Youth Librarians! Go talk to them & read