Fewer students are choosing careers in education, or they become disenchanted before their careers are fully launched. Without them, schools face a growing shortage of schoolteachers, particularly in districts with increased ethno-racial and linguistic diversity.
To bolster teacher ranks, Nebraska launched Project RAÍCES, a pilot program to help recruit, retain and diversify the next generation of teachers.
Project RAÍCES (“roots” in Spanish) – Re-envisioning Action and Innovation through Community Collaborations for Equity across Systems – seeks to inspire high school students to choose teaching careers and support them after college. By recruiting teachers who more closely reflect local diversity, the team aims to boost retainment and create a workforce that better reflects and understands the student population it serves.
The key is building relationships and working collaboratively with high school teachers, students and administrators, said project co-leader Amanda Morales, associate professor of multicultural and multilingual education.
The project is focusing initially on six districts dealing with teacher shortages and demographic shifts, five in Nebraska and one in Kansas.
To boost recruitment in Nebraska, the team works with high school students considering a teaching career to undertake research projects aimed at strengthening their schools and communities. The students end the yearlong experience with a trip to UNL to present their research.
Sixteen of the students received scholarships to the university’s teacher preparation programs. The recipients are receiving leadership development and mentoring designed to support them into their teaching careers.
The project also boosts professional development in culturally sustaining pedagogies for teachers and administrators through online modules and hands-on instruction.
“The student population looks different than it did 20 years ago,” Morales said. “Children’s lives and needs have changed a lot. What worked to connect with kids even five years ago, regardless of their background, doesn’t necessarily map to what’s most effective now. We’re working with our partners to ensure our undergrads and practicing teachers know and understand the nature of the districts and the systems they’re going into.”
She said she hopes Project RAÍCES becomes a model to expand into other communities.
The Husker team includes education professor Ted Hamann and associate professor Lauren Gatti. Kansas State University co-leads this project. The U.S. Department of Education contributed funding toward this project.
Additional content
- News release: Project to train, support teachers of diverse backgrounds
- Nebraska Public Media report
- Nebraska Examiner
Amanda Morales