Diversifying the American Teacher Workforce: Problematizing the Past and Building the Future

Abstract

Equity in the education profession is of grave importance. The current socio-political conditions have elevated matters of social and racial justice in society broadly. As the number of students attending America’s P-12 schools has grown more diverse across racial and ethnic groups, racial parity within the teacher workforce continues to lag. Many stratagems have been employed to expand teacher diversity across the nation with varying effects. We explore the historical and contemporary contexts of teacher diversity and outline considerations to advance racial parity in the teacher workforce beginning with preparation. Specially, we discuss how university-based teacher preparation programs may continually improve through principles of knowledge, cultural, policy, and structural building.