"Increasing Diversity within the Education Profession," the CAN Conversation Series

The Education Alliance has convened a group of deans, superintendents, and principals to address the low rate of minority participation in the teaching profession. This consortium of six leading colleges and universities that prepare teachers in the Northeast, plus 3 principals and 3 superintendents, has created an innovative program aimed at lowering the barriers to entry by individuals of color into the education profession. This consortium is called the Collaborative Alliance Network (CAN).

Throughout the entire region, there is one consistent fact: The low representation of minorities in teaching. The Northeast is a "bifurcated region," consisting of highly dense concentrations of populations in urban centers, as well as significant expanses of sparsely populated rural areas. Suburban districts across the region have also begun reporting increases in their numbers of minority students. When minority candidates are hired, they are concentrated in very particular areas of the central cities with few being hired in the suburbs. In the rural areas, the low incidence of minority populations in the schools does not support major recruitment efforts into the education profession. CAN addresses all three concerns.

Towards the goal of sharing resources, strategies, and outcomes, CAN has developed a conversation series entitled, "Increasing Diversity within the Education Profession." The purpose of these conversations is to discuss ways of creating new opportunities for diversifying the teaching force.

The first conversation was hosted at Brown University on June 28, 2007, highlighted by a presentation by Dr. Charles Willie, professor emeritus at Harvard University. His topic was "Defining Diversity in Education," which was followed by roundtable discussions that explored this issue and its impact on K–12 schooling and teacher preparation programs. Specific regional implications and recommendations for next action steps were also addressed.

A second conversation was held at New York University in late September, with Dr. Pedro Noguera presenting on "Confronting the Inevitable: How Schools Can Respond to and Embrace the Challenges Posed by Growing Diversity". Dr. Noguera is a professor at the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University and Executive Director of the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education.

The third conversation, "Preparing Teachers for Diversity: The Role of Schools of Education," was presented by Dr. Sonia Nieto on January 10, 2008 at the Faculty Club at Brown University. Dr. Nieto is Professor Emerita of Language, Literacy, and Culture in the School of Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

The fourth and final conversation, presented by Dr. Mica Pollock, was held on June 19, 2008 at the Faculty Club at Brown University. In Dr. Pollock's presentation, "Professional Development: Educating Educators on Issues of Race," she discussed findings from a new book in which 65 experts outline concrete antiracist strategies for use in the typical classroom. Dr. Pollock is an associate professor of education at Harvard University.