Courtesy of Fitchburg State University
FITCHBURG A new initiative at Fitchburg State University is designed to address the nation’s changing demographics by recruiting and training future educators from traditionally underrepresented populations.
The Future Educator Academy is designed to address ongoing demographic shifts, according to Lourdes Ramirez, coordinator of field placements, partnerships and recruitment for Fitchburg State’s School of Education. About 40% of the state’s public school students are of color, but only 8% of their teachers come from minority groups.
Research has shown that students of color are less likely to drop out if they have at least one teacher of color, Ramirez said.