By 2040, racial and ethnic minorities likely will make up more than half of the student population in the United States. Already, students of color may attend school from kindergarten to high school graduation without ever learning from a teacher who looks like them. Young boys may complete elementary and secondary education and never encounter a male teacher.
ACI’s Diversity at the Blackboard initiative is responding to this imbalance – with help from people like you who are ready and willing to prepare themselves to teach in Illinois’ high-need communities. Sponsored by the Associated Colleges of Illinois’ Center for Success in High-Need Schools and our member colleges and universities, Diversity at the Blackboard is building a new corps of excellent teachers who more closely resemble our increasingly diverse student population: more African Americans…more Hispanics…more men.
Why Teach?
By making a commitment to teaching, you can:
- Help break the cycle of poverty in low-income and minority communities. Research shows that a quality education can increase earning power. But high quality education is often beyond the reach of minority and low-income students, who are more likely to be taught by poorly prepared or uncertified teachers, and who tend to be underrepresented in gifted or advanced placement programs. As a teacher, you can help young people unlock their potential to learn and earn – and give them and their families a real chance at the American dream.
- Give children positive role models. Low-income and minority students need to believe that any dream is within reach. Teachers play a crucial role in helping students develop the self-esteem required to support those dreams. One negative school experience can produce life-long damage – and minority and low-income students are especially vulnerable. Minority and low-income parents may have little education themselves; they may be working two jobs or speak too little English to actively participate in their children’s education. Teachers provide at-risk children with the positive role models they may not be able to find at home.
- Enjoy the respect and admiration of your community. Teaching traditionally has been viewed as an honorable profession in minority communities, where achieving the level of education required to teach set these men and women apart. Recent surveys have shown that Americans have high respect for teachers, ranking them just after firefighters and other key public servants.
- Earn competitive salaries and enjoy excellent benefits. Contrary to popular belief, most Illinois teachers are well compensated. The average annual salary for Illinois teachers is $53,800, which is significantly higher than the state’s median income. Teachers also enjoy economic stability and benefits on par with or better than top corporations, including health insurance, retirement programs, and long summer vacations.
- Share your passion for learning. Students need teachers who are passionate about helping children learn. If you’ve always loved learning, teaching provides an extraordinary opportunity to ignite that passion in others.
ACI’s Diversity at the Blackboard initiative offers options and benefits that make teaching an accessible career path, whether you’re just starting college or considering a second career. You can choose from a variety of conventional and alternative teacher certification programs offered by twenty-three outstanding institutions of higher education, all members of the Associated Colleges of Illinois and located throughout the state.