Giving Compass' Take:

· Reporting for Education Dive, Amelia Harper discusses the challenges that schools often face when trying to diversify their teaching staff and increase retention. 

· Why is it important for students to develop relationships with their teachers? Why is it important for them to see a diverse set of teacher?

· Learn why Chicago is aiming to increase teacher diversity and retention.

In recent years, a great amount of research has demonstrated the value in increasing the diversity of a school’s teaching workforce, especially as the student population continues to diversify. Students who are exposed to good teachers who look like them benefit in terms of expectations, achievement, discipline and graduation rates. These students are also more likely to turn to the teaching profession themselves if they have a positive role model they can identify with.

In many cases, students of color don't even have to be directly taught directly by a teacher of color to experience those boosts, though studies show that having at least one teacher who looks like them does make a difference in the long run. A diverse teaching workforce also ultimately benefits all students in terms of cultural exposure and learning to respect individuals whose backgrounds may differ from their own.

Read the full article about teacher diversity and retention by Amelia Harper at Education Dive.