PRESS RELEASE: Teach Western Mass Awarded Grant to Support Diverse Teachers in PreK-12 Classrooms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Teach Western Mass Awarded Grant to Support Diverse Teachers in PreK-12 Classrooms
NewSchools Venture Fund will fuel efforts to recruit, support and cultivate more classroom teachers of color for Springfield and Holyoke schools
[Springfield, MA - October 24, 2019] – Teach Western Mass is proud to announce its selection as a member of the Diverse Teachers cohort at NewSchools Venture Fund, generously supported by the Walton Family Foundation.
Teach Western Mass is one of 14 organizations in the cohort. Each cohort member is committed to enhancing the recruitment, development and retention of underrepresented teachers, (including Black, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American/Alaskan Native teachers). In addition to financial support, NewSchools will provide management assistance and create a community of practice for the cohort members.
“We are honored to be recognized as one of 14 innovative initiatives increasing teacher diversity in classrooms across the country,” said Pema Latshang, founding executive director. “We believe that teachers who reflect our students’ experience and identity can help them to attain educational success. Our students are some of the most diverse in Massachusetts and this new investment is a perfect match for the incredible diversity in Holyoke and Springfield schools.”
The TWM Residency is a customized credentialing program training new teachers to be effective in the classroom while building strong relationships in their school communities and developing standards-based and culturally relevant curriculum for students in the region’s highest-need schools. Our program reduce barriers to entry into the teaching profession for people of color and career changers.
“I am proud of NewSchools’ commitment to this work,” said Frances Messano, a senior managing partner at NewSchools Venture Fund who leads the Diverse Leaders strategy. “Today’s students are the most racially diverse in the history of this country and it’s time to have teachers who match that diversity. We, with support from the Walton Family Foundation, are eager to support this new cohort focused on diversifying the teaching force. This cohort is an impressive group that will make a difference,” she added.
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ABOUT TEACH WESTERN MASS
Teach Western Mass (TWM) ensures the region’s highest need schools have effective teachers in every classroom. We strive to provide all students with equitable access to high-quality education in order to achieve transformational student outcomes. TWM attracts and prepares promising teacher candidates through our TWM Residency preparation program and partnership with local universities and teaching programs.
Founded in 2016 as a joint venture of the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership and Holyoke Public Schools—with generous support from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation. Currently, TWM partners with 30 schools in Western Mass, including several local charter schools (Veritas Prep, Springfield Prep, Libertas Academy, Baystate Charter Academy, Phoenix Charter School and MLK Charter), that serve over 11,000 students, and employ over 1,000 teachers.
More at www.TeachWesternMass.com. Follow us on social media (FB/Twitter/Instagram): @TeachWesternMA
ABOUT NEWSCHOOLS
NewSchools Venture Fund is a national nonprofit that supports and invests in promising teams of educators and innovators who want to reimagine learning. We help them accomplish their missions to achieve outstanding results for the schools, students and educators they serve. We are committed to helping students graduate high school prepared and inspired to achieve their most ambitious dreams and plans. Through our investing, management assistance, network building, and thought leadership, NewSchools helps to reimagine PreK-12 education.