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.