Look at CWU’s Increasing Teacher Diversity program

Editor, The Seattle Times:

Regarding the article “Wanted in classrooms: more teachers of color” [page one, Feb. 10], I would like to bring to your attention that Central Washington University, one of the nation’s largest teacher-preparation programs, has been addressing these concerns since 2002, when our professors established the Committee for Diversity and Equity within the university’s Center for Teaching and Learning.

Cory Gann, Central Washington University-Des Moines education professor, is the lead on a program to create greater diversity among K-12 teachers. CWU’s outreach program is funded in part by a $20,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation. In addition, Wells Fargo donated $7,500 to CWU’s “Increasing Teacher Diversity in South King County” program.

We are planting the seeds that a teaching career should be considered as an option, which means planning events at high schools and community colleges. We then provide general information about teaching careers and about CWU’s Westside centers. We also want to identify, and begin mentoring and advising, students who have shown potential and interest in becoming teachers.

Additionally, Steve Nourse and Steve Schmitz are involved with the Renton Teacher Academy. In this project, ethnically diverse high-school students who express an interest in teaching spend time in K-12 classrooms and attend classes that include pedagogy, classroom management, assessment, and so on. The project is funded by a grant from the Washington Educator Standards Board.

In the past 10 years, we have increased minority enrollment in CWU’s undergraduate teacher-preparation programs. In 2002, approximately 18 percent (178 of 1008 candidates) identified their ethnicity as other than white, non-Hispanic. In 2010, approximately 30 percent (372 of 1222 candidates) identified their ethnicity as other than white, non-Hispanic. Central Washington University overall has a 25 percent minority enrollment.

— Connie Lambert, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning and dean of College of Education and Professional Studies, Central Washington University