Beyond Compliance: Reimagining Mentoring for Teachers of Color

• In Event: Mentoring from the Margins: Preparing and Sustaining Teachers of Color for Educational Equity

Abstract

More than 50% of U.S. public school students are students of color, yet 80% of teachers are White. Many Black and Latine students may never have a teacher who looks like them throughout their PK–12 education. Retaining teachers of color (TOC) is crucial for improving the educational experience of students of color. Although many school districts require teacher mentoring, attrition rates for TOC remain high, with nearly 30% of Black teachers leaving after their first year during some school years. This study draws on TOC’s mentoring experiences to recommend improvements through culturally responsive mentor preparation aimed at better supporting and retaining TOC in U.S. public schools.

Author

• Franchesca R. Ho Sang, Hunter College