Educational Equity

The Challenge Our Communities Experience

Every child deserves a great education and the bright future that education can bring. Like other historic institutions, education in the United States is racked with inequity, with vast opportunity gaps for BIPOC students, educators, and communities. That problem is compounded by the ongoing teacher shortage and lack of forward-thinking, culturally responsive educational practices. In Western Massachusetts, the promise of equitable education remains unfulfilled.

Western Massachusetts schools serve a large population of BIPOC students, yet the majority of teachers are white. The teaching workforce fails to reflect the rich diversity of our region, and thus students are not consistently taught by educators who share their diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. When students have at least one same-race teacher, they have a better chance to thrive, with an increased likelihood to graduate high school and go onto college. While there is an evident need for BIPOC and antiracist educators, the path to becoming a licensed teacher is rife with obstacles, including financial constraints and burdensome schedules. Even once certified, current teachers struggle to find the right role and resources in order to succeed.

How We're Working With Schools on Solutions

At Teach Western Mass, we are committed to transforming the educational landscape for the better, so our commitment to our communities and their needs is the foundation of our organization. We seek to cultivate a diverse workforce, provide equitable education to students of all backgrounds, and support high-performing educators across their careers. To achieve this, we provide an accelerated education preparation program, continuous coaching for educators, and support of regional retention efforts. 

Our practices consciously challenge institutional racism, mindful of the current socio-political climate and its implications. We are dedicated to forming and enhancing a connection between education and the local community, imbuing an enthusiastic, symbiotic relationship, because we believe that, together, we can realize a better future for education.