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Students need many things, from visionary principals to sharp pencils. Somewhere near the top of that list should be these two words:


As of 2012, 16 percent of public school students were African-American, while just 7 percent of teachers were black. To make matters worse, according to the U.S. Department of Education, black teachers are leaving their classrooms at a 

To better understand the needs of these educators, researchers at The Education Trust, a national nonprofit that advocates for vulnerable students, went on a listening tour, convening focus groups of black teachers across seven states.

"To provide voice to an often unheard group," says Ashley Griffin, interim director of K-12 research at The Education Trust. "We wanted to make sure, if we were trying to recruit teachers, that we understood why they were leaving the workforce."

Of the 150 teachers who participated, most were women (80 percent) and most (76 percent) were in the South. The vast majority — 90 percent — taught in city schools, and nearly a third had been in the classroom for more than 15 years.

Through Our Eyes: Perspectives and Reflections From Black Teachers

." Below, we've highlighted a few big themes from the report and curated some of its most compelling quotes, all anonymous.


Many of the teachers interviewed spoke passionately about their work and about the need for more teachers of color, saying their black students often feel more comfortable around them than they do around other teachers.

This connection, the teachers said, can even be a source of strength that helps them manage their classrooms:

 out of North Carolina suggests that black students are less likely to be suspended from school when their teacher is also black.


For many black teachers who participated in The Education Trust's listening tour, this connection is both a blessing and a burden.

There's another downside. Because of their success managing students who had struggled or acted out in others' classrooms, many black teachers reported feeling pigeonholed:

Some said they had lobbied to teach more advanced courses but were told they'd be more useful teaching low-performers:

Black teachers consistently reported bias in their schools — from principals, colleagues and parents. Many said they feel like they work just as hard if not harder than their colleagues but get less recognition:

Education News

Cory Turner

Author

Researchers at The Education Trust went on a listening tour to better understand the struggles of black teachers. Among the themes they encountered: bias - from principals, colleagues and parents.

The burden on black teachers: 'I don't belong at your table'

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