both students and faculty mentors . The program will target students who want to teach in their own communities . Although initiatives like Pionero and Call Me MiSTER recruit a small number of candidates , these programs are beginning an important conversation in the state about the importance of racial and ethnic diversity .
Belmont University ’ s School of Education approaches curriculum for teacher candidates as an opportunity to make pre-service teachers advocates for children and families . Part of this curriculum involves an emphasis on social justice and opportunities for students to confront unconscious bias . Students analyze how , in their roles as educators , they can combat the ways that unconscious biases marginalize others . To further facilitate the development of a diverse range of classroom experiences with diverse learners , pre-service teachers begin going into schools when they are first-
School districts also play an important role in the recruitment and retention of teachers of color . In 2014 , for example , Boston
year students .
Public Schools launched the Male Educators of Color Executive Coaching Seminar Series , a professional development opportunity open to all male educators of color in the district . 14 One goal of this seminar series is to support and retain male teachers of color , as well as increase the number of male educators of color . 15
State policymakers have also taken some steps to address the lack of a racially and ethnically diverse teaching population . A 1989 House Joint Resolution , for example , requested an annual report on the status of minority teachers be submitted to the Senate and House K-12 Education Sub-Committees of the Tennessee General Assembly . 16 The TDOE released the most recent of these reports in 2012 . 17 That report focused on recruitment of African Americans .
The Tennessee General Assembly also authorized the Tennessee Minority Teaching Fellows
Belmont and Program Curriculum : Culturally Relevant Instruction
Program , which encourages students of color to enter the teaching field in the state . The Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation awards fellows $ 5,000 per year . Fellows must pursue a teacher certification at an eligible Tennessee college or university . Students who accept the award must sign a promissory note and commit to teaching pre-K-12 in a Tennessee public school one year for each year they receive this financial aid . Few students statewide take advantage of this opportunity , however . In 2015-16 , there were 62 recipients , compared to 73 the previous year and 86 recipients in 2013-14 .
To better address the need for a more racially and ethnically representative teaching population , the TDOE is now considering setting recruitment goals that would guide statewide efforts to recruit more minority teaching candidates .
Turn to page 34 for our recommendations to improve the racial and ethnic diversity of the teaching population .
Academic Profile and Endorsement Areas . The average final grade point average ( GPA ) for completers in 2013-14 was 3.58 . The ACT composite score for teacher training program beginners in 2013 was 23 , above the average ACT score of all incoming freshmen of just over
12