Connecticut schools looking to boost teacher diversity

NORTH HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — More than 200 people gathered Thursday in North Haven to talk about getting more students interested in careers in education. They are also aiming for a future with more diversity among the profession.

Teachers and future teachers, come together in a Quinnipiac University auditorium to talk about creating more educators.

“There’s such a lack of, and nobody really want to go into it because there’s so much demand for it, and a lot of people think it’s a really difficult job,” Waterbury Career Academy senior Haylie Johnson said.

Johnson is also part of Educators Rising, a movement that works to encourage today’s students to become tomorrow’s teachers. The symposium was about encouraging lot of different people to become teachers. It started with a video message from U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

“Part of our vision includes making sure that we have a beautifully diverse workforce,” Cardona said.

The message was that students need to see teachers who look like them

“You know, when we grow up, we look at who is around us, who are the leaders,” said Angela Griffin, the director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for Naugatuck Public Schools. “If we don’t see someone that looks like us, if we don’t see someone that is inspiring, it can be very difficult.”

It was the third year they’ve been doing this symposium, and educators said it seems to be working. Each year, there are more students interested in becoming educators, and more diversity among those students, as well.

“Last year, I had about 20, this year, I have 36 students that are in my education and training strand,” Waterbury Career Academy teacher Ericka Boutote said.

New Haven’s Julia Miller was just named the state’s teacher of the year the day before. She had a simple message for students.

“Teaching is fun,” Miller said. “You get to make an impact on lives, which then has a ripple effect, honestly, for generations.”

The symposium hoped to spread that message statewide.

“If you want to make a difference in the lives of many, education and being a teacher touches all aspects of life,” said Shauna Tucker, chief talent officer for the Connecticut Department of Education. “For us to get where we are, no matter what profession we’re in, we had to have a teacher to guide us on that pathway.”

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