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Purpose

The Teachers as Leaders Initiative announced at the Clinton Global Initiative

The Teachers As Leaders initiative was created to address a gross reality within the New York school system. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Black male teachers represent a mere 4.4% of the teacher workforce in New York City. The disproportionate under-representation of Black male teachers in New York City requires strategies that address the intersection of several overlapping impediments which include an alarming high school graduation rate of approximately 37%, inadequate preparation for teaching licenses, as well as the growing social inequities facing Black boys and men that have impeded their participation and advancement in education and employment. Teachers As Leaders is aimed at increasing opportunities for teaching as a career and advancing educational opportunities for the least advantaged in NYC.  

The Program

The "Teachers as Leaders" Program is focused on recruiting and retaining African American males as teachers in NYC and training them to engage as policy advocates.  The initiative is also focused on evaluating the impact of African American male teachers on the educational performance of Black boys. The initiative is aligned with Schott’s Representative Leadership and Race and Gender Equity program agenda.

The initial grant from The Schott Foundation allowed CUNY BMI to:

1. provide scholarships to 35 students in the first and second cohorts;
2. purchase New York State Teacher Certification (NYSTCE) preparation materials for each scholar;
3. give stipends to students participating in clinical education internships with an after-school program;
4. offer modest honoraria to graduate students to conduct workshops as guest speakers; and
5. hire a seasoned administrator, Ramik Williams, as the Program Manager for the Teachers as Leaders Project in late June 2008.  

CUNY BMI is now in its second year and has provided scholarships to 35 continuing participants. As the program continues CUNY BMI plans to award up to 80 scholarships: Up to 40 scholarships will be awarded during the spring 2009 semester. Another 40 will be awarded during the fall 2009 semester. They will also continue program activity that was initiated under the initial grant including:

1. New York State Teacher Certification (NYSTCE) preparation materials for each scholar;
2. Stipends to support scholars’ participation in clinical education internships with an after-school program for at least 50 hours per semester; and
3. Three (3) career development and two (2) public policy workshops per semester organized by CUNY BMI; Funds will be used to offer modest honoraria to speakers, particularly graduate students to conduct workshops.

Read about the Initiative at Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation.
Read about the Initiative at CUNY.