Educator Diversity

Having access to educators and school leaders of color is an essential driver of improved academic outcomes, social-emotional well-being, and cultural consciousness for students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. 

Although New York State is home to one of the most diverse student populations in the country, the makeup of the state’s educator and school leader workforce is majority White, failing to reflect our students, who are mostly of color. Many students of color do not have access to educators or leaders of the same race or ethnicity as them. 

Ensuring access to educators who are well-prepared, supported, and reflective of students of color is essential to improving equity and opportunity in New York State’s schools.

Our Equity-Centered Approach

As the first organization to provide a statewide view of educators and leaders of color, we analyze data on educator and school leader diversity, and retention and recruitment of teachers of color. To close persistent gaps in representation across the state, we work alongside our partners from the New York Equity Coalition to advocate for equitable policies and opportunities to cultivate more educators and school leaders of color to reflect student diversity in schools.

Latest Resource

Brief: Celebrating progress on educator diversity in New York State

Our latest report on educator diversity draws lessons from how the New York State Education Department (NYSED), local school districts, institutions of higher education, schools, and advocates are working toward improving educator diversity and retaining teachers of color.

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Featured Resources and Reports Over the Years

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Report: Representation Matters

Despite bodies of research that show access to diverse teachers is important for all students and efforts to improve diversity across the state, this analysis shows that between the 2018-2019 and 2021-2022 school years New York failed to move the needle in cultivating a more diverse teacher workforce.
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Resource: Educator Diversity Playbook

This Educator Diversity Playbook is designed as a tool for school district leaders who are interested in
improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in their schools and central offices.

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Student Voice: A Natural Connection and an Outlet

In this blog, Aaron, a graduate of Buffalo Public Schools discusses his experience never having a teacher of color. The only exposure he had to a Black school staffer was a librarian, who he felt a strong connection with.

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A Teacher's Perspective: Why I Teach

In this blog post, a Buffalo teacher reflects on why he teaches. "I want my students to learn how to ignore societal expectations and instead indulge in their creativity. I want to inspire them to be themselves. To push forward when life gets difficult."
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Data Snapshot

of schools in New York State do not have any school leaders of color.

*New York Equity Coalition, 2023

Black and Latinx students attend schools without teachers of the same race.

*EdTrust-New York, 2022

More Resources

School Leader Diversity in New York State

by | Sep 21, 2023 |

While New York is one of the most diverse states in the nation, a new by the New York Equity Coalition shows school level leadership does not represent the racial and ethnic diversity of the student population in New York State public schools. The analysis reveals more than half of students attend a school without any school leaders of color.

Teacher Retention in New York State

by | Jul 20, 2023 |

An analysis of educator retention data in New York State (NYS) from SY 2018-19 to 2021-22 shows that New York State public schools are challenged to retain teachers of color, in particular Black, American Indian, and Latinx teachers.

Students Can’t Wait: Equity Priorities for New Yorkers in 2023

by | Jan 31, 2023 |

During our briefing, we joined with our partners from the New York Equity Coalition and discussed what our most recent research shows about the state of education in NY, what investments Governor Hochul proposed to help children and families, and our policy recommendations for the 2023 legislative session.