JPEF receives national funding for diverse male teacher initiative
NewSchools Venture Fund reinvests in JPEF initiative to recruit, retain Black male and Latino teachers
5/3/2023
The Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF) has received a $260,000 reinvestment award from NewSchools Venture Fund to support JPEF’s commitment to diversify the education workforce in Duval County through the 1000 by 2025 Initiative.
Today’s teacher workforce does not reflect the demographics of the nation’s public-school students. More than 50% of public-school students are students of color, yet teachers of color make up just 20% of the educator workforce.
Last year, NewSchools awarded JPEF a $200,000 grant to help fund the initiative to recruit and retain 1,000 qualified, diverse male teachers by 2025.
The August 2022 progress update from DCPS on recruitment and retention efforts shows JPEF exceeded the initiative’s recruitment goal of 108. During this time, 148 Black and Latino male educators were hired at DCPS. JPEF’s current data through December 2022 shows a total of 586 diverse male teachers in the district, an increase from the original baseline of 540 diverse male teachers overall.
Research shows that increased diversity within schools yields better outcomes for all students. Students of color, in particular, do better academically, experience fewer disciplinary incidents, and form stronger and more trusting bonds with teachers who look like them, promoting deeper learning.
“For years, JPEF’s original research has shown that teachers are role models, and all students benefit when they see diversity among their teachers,” said JPEF President Rachael Tutwiler Fortune. “With the reinvestment fromNewSchools and the support of our partners in the Duval County community, we are able to address the diversity gap and improve student outcomes and promote education equity.”
JPEF is partnering with Duval County Public Schools, the University of North Florida College of Education and Human Services, and education partners such as Teach for America and City Year, as well as local and regional historically black colleges and universities in this effort. For more information on the initiative, please visit teachduval.com.