Why it makes a difference if a teacher looks like you
The nationwide teacher shortage is staggering. From June to December 2024, the Oklahoma State Department of Education reportedly issued 4,676 emergency certifications, which are provisional licenses for the 2024-2025 school year.
In response, there are legislative bills to improve teacher pay and provide technological tools. State agency incentive programs offer financial support to recruit and retain teachers to teach in high-needs schools and in content areas like math, science and special education. These are all initiatives to offset the disparities.
In 2024, the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), the Nation's Report Card, reported Oklahoma's academic performance made little progress since the pre-pandemic levels.
Major innovations are underway to close the achievement gaps and improve teacher shortages. However, Tyler Glover, an African American sixth-grade math teacher at Santa Fe South Middle School, a public charter school with Oklahoma City Public School (OKCPS), says too many underserved students are being left behind.
More: Ryan Walters should support trauma-informed interventions for Oklahoma kids | Opinion
Linda Darling-Hammond, president and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute (LPI), a national educational scholar and expert, echoes Glover's sentiments. Her research shows that teachers of color bring benefits to all students, and especially to students of color, including by improving academic performance and attainment.
Talitha Tollett-Bray, an African American educator, now retired, taught at John Franklin Hope Early Childhood Center and in the Tulsa Public Schools system. As a child, Bray started school at the all-Black Dunbar Elementary School and, by fifth grade, she had entered the integrated Pershing Elementary School.
'When I attended Pershing Elementary, it was the first time I experienced racism. My teacher ... was very prejudiced. She belittled Black students," Tollett-Bray said. "One day, I wrote a derogatory statement on a piece of paper. Later, I balled it up and threw it in the trash. One of the white girls got it out of the trash and gave it to her. I still got in trouble for my behavior. However, the white principal understood because parents complained about (the teacher's) treatment of Black children."
'When I attended school as a child, my Black teachers showed interest in you. They were stern. They knew the importance of education. They emphasized the value of education in their teaching. They wanted you to succeed. They drilled into us daily that education is how you get ahead. Education is how you get a good job, take care of yourself, be a productive citizen, and become an independent thinker by obtaining an education,' Tollett-Bray said.
More: Opinion: Bilingual teacher pipeline program at OKCPS helping to improve student outcomes
Bray stressed that our communities of color need and benefit from more teachers of color, particularly in the early grades.
The attrition rate for novice teachers is five years before they leave the classroom. Glover graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). She has taught for seven years, gaining experience from the Putnam City district and at KIPP OKC College Prep (OKCPS).
'Our schools are made up of children of color from underserved communities. These kids seldom see teachers or administrators who look like them,' Glover said.
Isaiah Massing, founding principal of Santa Fe South West Middle School, said studies show that students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, tend to perform better when taught by teachers who share their racial or cultural background. The shared experience between the students and the teachers leads to a deeper understanding of students' experiences. Massing said shared experiences decrease the need for behavioral interventions with less harsh consequences. Suspension rates are greatly reduced. Reductions in suspensions give students more time in the classroom, and students benefit from increased learning.
He added: "Having a teacher who looks like them makes students feel more comfortable with who they are. That increased comfort is crucial for learning. It is much easier to learn when you are not worried about how you are being perceived.'
Giovanni Aleso, a fifth-grader at Santa Fe South West, said Glover, his teacher, "takes time to show us how to work on math problems when we did not get it the first time. I like that.'
A classmate, Camila Chavez, added: 'Ms. Glover is kind. Tomorrow's her birthday. If we win (a school competition), we get a party. I hope we win.'
Deena V. Thomas is a retired Oklahoma City Public Schools teacher
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Many school children never see teachers who look like them | Opinion
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