Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has partnered with historically Black Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina to advance African American representation in public school teaching, specifically in the STEM fields.
The new partnership will serve as a pathway for students with a STEM-related bachelor’s degree from Shaw University to enroll in a graduate program for teaching at Virginia Tech. The program was developed by Virginia Tech professors Brenda Brand and Lezly Taylor.
“There are not enough teachers who look like minoritized students in the classroom,” said Dr. Brand, professor and program leader of science education. “This initiative grew out of a need for us to increase the numbers of teachers going into STEM, but also to help increase students going into STEM teaching from historically underrepresented groups.”
“Addressing systemic challenges requires an informed approach that deals with barriers to the teaching profession as it relates to recruitment, preparation, and retention,” said Dr. Taylor, assistant professor of science education. “This partnership aims to contribute to reducing disparities in the teaching profession, ensuring that every educator can deliver a quality education and that every student can access it without barriers.”
