'Talking Out of School' podcast: Fixing shortages and academics at the same time
Recruiting more aspiring educators of color will not only fill teacher vacancies but also propel student achievement and improve school climate, says this week’s podcast guest, Javaid Siddiqi, president and CEO of The Hunt Institute.
“This a community that is not represented and here’s this data that tells you if you engage this community, it’s going to help you on your student learning outcomes and also, this mine of talent is a lot deeper,” asserts Siddiqi, the former Virginia Secretary of Education whose nonprofit is now working to diversify the workforce and boost early learning and literacy.
Grow-your-own programs, in which districts begin training high school students to work in education, are key to developing more teachers—and eventually, leaders—of color. When districts promote more leaders of color, they will recruit and retain teachers from underrepresented groups.
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Preschool—a rare issue that enjoys support from Democrats and Republicans—is one area where the nation has made tremendous progress over the last 10 years, he notes. The Hunt Institute has been educating lawmakers on the huge benefits of investing in early childhood education—particularly by expanding access to the students who most need help preparing for kindergarten and first grade.
“I feel much better today than I did a few years ago,” Siddiqi says of the state of early learning. “I see a let loss partisan nonsense in this investment area, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.”
Siddiqi also discusses the impacts of school choice and how his organization is helping schools integrate the science of learning You can listen to this episode anytime on Apple, Spotify, Podbean or by clicking below.
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