Diving into the teacher diversity gap: Why classroom representation matters

New York City’s teaching workforce does not reflect the student population. Students of color make up most of the nation’s largest school system, while white educators make up more than half of teachers. Research links teacher diversity to improved student outcomes, including higher test scores, better attendance, and higher graduation rates. A college freshman, Isaiah Nicholson, aims to reduce the representation gap after experiencing it firsthand. He is a fellow in NYC Men Teach, a 10-year program based at the City University of New York that recruits more men of color into the teacher pipeline. Over the past decade, the program helped add about 3,200 new male teachers of color to city public schools.

"Students of color make up the vast majority of the nation's largest school system, yet white educators are more than half of the teaching workforce. Better representation at the front of the classroom can affect student outcomes. Studies have shown students who have teachers of color tend to have better test scores, attendance, and graduation rates."

"Ermione interviews Isaiah Nicholson, a college freshman who was once in their shoes and now wants to make a dent in the data. Isaiah is a fellow in NYC Men Teach, a 10-year-old program based out of the City University of New York that aims to bring more men of color into the city's teacher pipeline."

"Over the past decade, the program contributed roughly 3,200 new male teachers of color to the city's public schools, a new report said. Transcript Ermione: I know I've already defied a lot of stereotypes people have placed on me about me. I'm black and grew up with an immigrant single mom."

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