February 2024
Alliance Newsletter
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Standing on Legacy, Leading the Future
As an organization deeply committed to anti-racism and the multigenerational disruption of systems of inequity through teaching and learning, we recognize that celebrating Black history, culture, and community is not just a time-bound endeavor during Black History Month; it is integral to our mission and our work to mobilize, support, and center our Black educators throughout the year.
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” —Malcolm X
Launched in 2019, our landmark Black Educators Initiative has accelerated this work through intentional programming, partnerships, and equity by design, and welcomed hundreds of next-gen Black educators into our classrooms. As we reflect on our powerful and growing network, “Black Teachers: Standing on Legacy, Leading the Future” is the theme of this year’s City Teaching Alliance Black History Month celebration, heralding the pivotal role Black educators have played throughout history and continue to play in our communities as we work in partnership to build the Black educator pipeline. It is critically important that we tell the stories of the invaluable contributions, achievements, and importance of the work that Black educators have made possible in this country, and their dedication, innovation, and leadership today, as we galvanize our communities to invest in our educators and this movement.
If you aren’t yet following us on social media, we encourage you to join us as we hear from Black educators across our network and convene our staff, faculty, and participant-teachers and alumni for featured Black History Month virtual events such as “Black Teacher Wholeness: Adult-Facing SEL” and “Black Math Teacher Love: Growing the Brilliance of Black Children in Mathematics.” We are particularly excited to spotlight and celebrate Black educators throughout the month who have been nominated for special recognition by our network due to their tangible impact among students, peers, and school communities.
Thank you for joining us in uplifting and reflecting on the enduring legacies of Black practitioners whose expertise and innovation have consistently shaped our path forward toward a more effective, equitable, and sustainable education system. We are proud to continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our Black educators to reimagine and redesign instruction for the benefit of all learners and build the next generation of changemakers in our communities.
Want to get involved in our Black Educators Initiative? We welcome your outreach to Jasmine Knowles, Managing Director, at jasmine.knowles@cityteachingalliance.org.
Did You Know?
- Having a same-race teacher improves test scores, graduation rates, attendance, and disciplinary outcomes for Black and Latinx students.
- According to a major study by Gershenson et al (2018), Black students are 13% more likely to graduate high school and 19% more likely to enroll in college when they’ve had at least one Black teacher by third grade – rising to 32% more likely to enroll if they’ve had two or more.
- Only 7% of America’s public school teachers are Black, while more than 15% of all students attending public school are Black – and up to 70%+ of the student population in U.S cities identifies as Black.
Hear from our teachers about how they honor Black history in their classrooms!
Interim Co-CEOs Appointed As CEO Search Progresses
As our search for our next Chief Executive Officer continues following the transition of former CEO Peter Shulman after 6 years of tremendous service, City Teaching Alliance’s Board of Directors is pleased to share that Chief Program Officer, Kenneth McCants-Pearsall, and Chief Advancement Officer, Laura Fogliano, have been appointed Interim Co-CEOs, effective February 1st.
In his CPO role, Kenneth’s highly relevant prior instructional, talent development, and multi-site/multi-campus organizational leadership experience has allowed him to swiftly partner with our site teams and national supporting functions to tackle some of the most important questions and ideas that will take our programming and service to our communities to the next level.
In her multiple City Teaching Alliance roles over five-plus years, Laura has collaborated closely across the organization and our sites to tell our story, fund our work, and build the operational and financial conditions necessary to reach our long-term sustainability vision, also leveraging her past experience in education and multi-site nonprofit growth and development.
“Alongside our fantastic national and site leadership teams, we believe that this partnership will provide the sustainable, mutually supportive division of labor we need to to continue to advance all of the exciting work underway at City Teaching Alliance – including our core programming, ramp-up of key strategic plan initiatives, and our search for the right next Chief Executive for our next chapter,” said Sekou Biddle, UNCF’s Vice President of Advocacy and Student Professional Development Programs and City Teaching Alliance Board Chair.
As we step into this interim period, our call for applications for our permanent CEO role has now closed and our selection process is underway. Edgility Consulting is continuing to partner with our Board and leadership team to find the catalytic, visionary, values-driven leader who will help us double down on our community and field-wide impact in the years to come.
Summer Institute Sponsors Needed!
City Teaching Alliance’s intensive Summer Institute is the first phase of our distinctive multi-year teacher development pathway.
Our newest aspiring teachers begin foundational clinical coursework and professional development, receive induction support from our expert faculty and alumni mentors, and build powerful connections with our community of practitioners, partners, and stakeholders as they become part of the city’s fabric and long-term generational impact, while our rising first-year teachers continue work with our expert team to plan and prepare for their first weeks leading their own classrooms.
JOIN US AS A SPONSORING PARTNER!
Together, we can build brighter futures for thousands of children.
As a responsible business showcasing its corporate citizenship, the benefits to you are:
- Brand Awareness
- Customer Loyalty
- Public Relations
- Responsible Business Leadership
- Targeted Audience Promotion
- Product Placements
- Employee Pride & Retention
- Market Share
We offer a custom recognition package that includes virtual and in-person marketing, employee volunteer opportunities, and community engagement and networking.
No investment has a better ROI than supporting bright futures for the next generation.
To become a sponsoring partner of City Teaching Alliance’s Summer Institute, contact Lyn Rumage at 410-417-9429 or email Lyn.Rumage@cityteachingalliance.org.
Calling All Aspiring Educators!
Do you know someone finishing up their bachelor’s degree this spring who has always dreamed of earning a master’s degree in education, but who may be daunted by the idea of taking on more financial or personal commitments so soon in their career?
Do you know someone thinking about a career change? Someone who would love to be a teacher, but wonders if it is possible at their present life stage?
Someone who, decades from now, will be remembered by our kids as a teacher who really cared for them and saw their strengths? Someone you know who could be the kind of teacher that fosters a nurturing classroom where every student feels included and supported to learn?
These are the people we stand ready to welcome into our schools to build legacies as beloved educators. Please take a moment right now to forward this newsletter to them and encourage them to investigate the possibilities with City Teaching Alliance! Our next cohort begins in four months. With our vast and constantly growing array of resources and wraparound supports for incoming candidates, it is our vision that every student in the United States is taught by committed, well-prepared, culturally responsive teachers – and our privilege to help make dreams of a career in education come true.
Since our first cohort in 2010, more than 400,000 children have been positively impacted by a City Teaching Alliance educator. Could someone in your network reach hundreds more?
If you, or someone you know, would make a fantastic teacher, visit CityTeachingAlliance.org or APPLY HERE!
Our next deadline for this application year is March 11th.
We hope you will stay connected with us, our students, our educators, and our schools as we – and our growing network of powerful practitioners – continue to learn, innovate, and co-create the future of teaching and learning in our communities.
We will never share our mailing lists with outside organizations.
Please help us grow our City Teaching Alliance (formerly dba Urban Teachers) family by sharing this newsletter with your friends, business partners, and community thought leaders. City Teaching Alliance is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (EIN 27-0989006). To learn more about us, visit our website at CityTeachingAlliance.org or Click Here to donate.
Donations can also be mailed to:
City Teaching Alliance
8 Market Place
Suite 410
Baltimore, MD 21202
Text-to-Give: INSPIRECHILDREN to 44-321
Contact Lyn Rumage at 410-417-9429 or Lyn.Rumage@cityteachingalliance.org for planned giving, Donor Advised Funds, trusts, or legacy gifts.
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