By Jeannie Pincus
Diversity in the classroom is about embracing, acknowledging and welcoming all differences. This also includes diversity among teachers, support staff members and administrators. Having a diverse educator workforce is essential to positive outcomes for the diverse student populations in our schools.
Growing up Hispanic/Latin in a rural area where the majority of the area population was white had a tremendous impact on my decision to pursue a career in education. As a young Hispanic/Latin student, I did not have support from my teachers to pursue a career, let alone college.
I didn’t even have familiar faces that looked like mine. Anyone who looked like me worked in custodial or kitchen positions. I felt like I didn’t belong because I didn’t see any teachers who understood my cultural background. I was uncomfortable speaking in class when teachers called on me for fear of being laughed at because I had an accent.
Because of my language barriers, I was placed in ESL to learn English. I was also forced to go into speech therapy to get rid of my accent, and my parents stopped speaking Spanish to me because they wanted me to become more “Americanized.” As I was completing high school, I noticed that minority students such as myself did not receive proper guidance for college preparation. We were left to figure out our futures alone.
Once I became an adult, it was imperative to me that I become an educator so students could see a familiar face in me. My Hispanic heritage is one of the representations our schools need. A multicultural environment should include teachers of diverse backgrounds. Our educational system should reflect our society, which is rich with a variety of cultures.
While we have more diversity among teachers in some urban areas, we need these talented teachers in every district. A diverse educator force helps students everywhere and should not be limited to specific school districts.
Minority teachers can be significant role models for our students. Students who identify with their teachers tend to perform better academically. Another positive impact minority teachers bring to our schools is they can help reduce discipline disparities because with our common backgrounds, we are able to relate to our students with fewer biases.
The diversity gap is a challenge our school system. We need to find ways to get more minority teachers in our schools. Our students are looking for a sense of belonging, so let’s show our students they can see themselves in their teachers.
After a career as a paraprofessional in Egg Harbor Township School District, Jeannie Pincus is now an elementary education major focusing on disability studies and holistic health at Stockton University. She is the NJEA Preservice Diversity and Justice co-chair.