Program supports candidates of color training to be teachers in middle Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 18, 2022) –The Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance (TECA) and Teach Plus today announced the launch of the Ascension Project, a new leadership development and high-quality mentorship program for junior, senior, and graduate students of color who are candidates at education prep programs in middle Tennessee. The program, composed of mentors who are all current classroom teachers of color and their mentees, will focus on racial identity development, education policy, advocacy strategies, resume development, and networking for career advancement.
“Our future teachers of color are not being prepared for the challenges that exist when they enter the profession. Racial isolation, being a disciplinarian, a school-wide translator, or accessing leadership opportunities, are challenges that teachers of color continually face,” said Dr. Diarese George, executive director for the Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance. “It’s important that we prepare and provide support for candidates of color training to become teachers prior to them transitioning into the profession so that they may be better prepared and can be retained longer.”
“We’re excited to embark on this work in partnership with TECA,” said Dr. Michael Savoy, Teach Plus Vice President of Programs. “Teach Plus is focused on ways to attract and retain talented teachers of color in the classroom. With the dearth of teachers of color in the profession, it is more important than ever to build the skills of incoming teachers of color to be leaders in their school community and advocates for themselves and their students of color. It is very important to support them as they learn and grow as professionals.”
Sixty percent of early-career educators of color leave the profession during the first three years. Lack of access to leadership opportunities is one of the leading causes for high attrition among educators of color in Tennessee. The Ascension Project underscores the urgent need to prepare candidates of color for the realities and challenges of being a teacher of color so that they may be retained longer in the profession, and ascend to higher heights in their careers. As part of the program, Teach Plus will develop the leadership, mentorship, and collaboration skills of teacher mentors and TECA will support the leadership development of the candidates of color.
Alexa Cathey, a senior at Austin Peay State University shared, “One of my motivations for applying to the Ascension Project was to connect and network with other educators who are people of color. Being connected to other teachers of color would help me not to feel alone in the world of education. Within this community, I anticipate that we can share our challenges, successes, and stories with each other. I want to be a part of a community of educators where we can laugh together, cry together, and learn together.”
All of the candidates, known as Ascenders, were selected from different preparation programs at universities in middle Tennessee, and ten of Ascenders are first-generation college students. The inaugural cohort consists of:
Ceayanci Alexander, Senior, Middle Tennessee State University
Alleyah Allen, Senior, Middle Tennessee State University
Alexa Cathey, Senior, Austin Peay State University
Karen De Leon, Junior, Lipscomb University
Brionna Harbach, Junior, Middle Tennessee State University
Cicela Hernandez, Senior, Lipscomb University
Myah Jennings, Senior, Austin Peay State University
Destinee Johnson, Senior, Austin Peay State University
Jeanell Jones, Senior, Middle Tennessee State University
Deja Moulden, Senior, Austin Peay State University
Jeremiah Phillips, Junior, Middle Tennessee State University
Janiah Terry, Senior, Austin Peay State University
Deonsharae Williams, Junior, Middle Tennessee State University
Similarly, the mentor teachers, known as Tennessee Ready to Lead Fellows, were selected through a rigorous process. Each Fellow is a demonstrably effective classroom teacher, has demonstrated leadership in and out of the classroom, and identifies as a teacher of color. The 2022-2023 Tennessee Ready to Lead Fellows are:
Dr. Candra Clariette, Metro-Nashville Public Schools
Amissa Green, Robertson County Schools
Jaquandria Hayes, Metro-Nashville Public Schools
Jasmine Jacobs, Metro-Nashville Public Schools
Toya Kadeba, Rutherford County Schools
Taylor Kirk, Metro-Nashville Public Schools
Tameka Marshall, Metro-Nashville Public Schools
Tovasha Myree, Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools
Daven Oglesby, Metro-Nashville Public Schools
Darlene Perry, Metro-Nashville Public Schools
Evelin Salgado Bustamante, Metro-Nashville Public Schools
Leticia Skae-Jackson, Williamson County Schools
Dr. Meagan Smart, Metro-Nashville Public Schools
“The first few years within the classroom can be extremely rough because of a general lack of support. This is especially true for educators of color as the profession does not represent or resemble us,” said Taylor Kirk. “This often leads to feelings of isolation and ultimately can cause a departure from the profession. I was interested in this program because I have a heart for mentoring new educators of color to gain their ground in the profession.”
About the Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance
The Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance (TECA) seeks to develop, connect, and support educators of color with decision-making power who shape, create, and influence policy. TECA works to amplify the voice, presence, and support for educators of color while remaining student-centered and solutions-oriented. More information is available at www.tneca.org.
About Teach Plus
The mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect their students’ success. Since 2009, Teach Plus has developed thousands of teacher leaders across the country to exercise their leadership in shaping education policy and improving teaching and learning, to create an education system driven by access and excellence for all. teachplus.org
###
Contact:
Diarese George, Ed. D.
Executive Director
Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance
(931) 561-6640
info@tneca.org
