In the last two years, a growing number of teachers have retired early or left the profession altogether, leading to a nationwide school staffing shortage. A 2022 national survey by the National Education Association found that 55% of teachers surveyed indicated that they were ready to leave their profession earlier than planned. A resulting nationwide teacher shortage will be especially evident among teachers of color, and the NEA survey stated that Black and Hispanic teachers are “more likely to retire or leave early” than their white counterparts.
There are many reasons why educators of color are leaving the profession, including financial barriers to pursuing an advanced college degree and paying off student loans, poor experiences within their own schooling, workplace discrimination, and burnout from “all the extra duties and support they must bring to schools.” In an interview with Colorado Public Radio (CPR), former Denver public school teacher Shayla Williams said, “Every school that I’ve taught at in my 13-year career, I’ve been the only Black teacher, the only Black teacher … and it’s been super frustrating because the kids want to see people that look like them.”
Williams is correct — research from Johns Hopkins University revealed that Black students who had just one Black teacher by the third grade were 13% more likely to enroll in college, and those who had two were 32% more likely to enroll. “It says something when you come from an underprivileged, marginalized group and you understand the students that you teach, because you personally go through that, so you’re invested in their learning, you’re invested in their academic success,” said Zuri Hunter, another former Denver teacher interviewed for CPR.
Supporting Students With The Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy
Educators of color are essential in closing achievement gaps among students of color. Additionally, teachers are frequently seen as mentors to many students, and it’s important for underrepresented students to see people who look like them in positions of leadership and authority.
Colorado native Robert F. Smith supports initiatives dedicated to increasing diverse representation in the classroom. In 2021, the Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy, a Denver public school, enrolled its first class and was named after Smith due to the “high level of achievement” he evokes. The STEAM Academy focuses on helping students of color excel in school by creating a learning environment inspired by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The school was built in the city’s northeast corner, where residents have not had access to a local, comprehensive high school in a decade. The STEAM Academy opened as a high-quality, neighborhood option to prevent families from having to travel across Denver to find quality schools for their children.
The STEAM Academy bases its lessons on Black History 365, a comprehensive curriculum that brings aspects of African-American history into all classes offered at the school. Our school’s existence is just an act of resilience and resistance to oppressive structures in society,” said principal Shakira Abney-Wisdom. “This is a sanctuary, really, a safe space for our scholars to be all that they are, and to grow, to challenge themselves, to challenge one another, to accomplish the goals that they have.”
Learn more about Smith’s education advocacy and about the Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy.
