Imagine the teacher in the class. Imagine the student in the class. Is there a missing link? Yes, the missing link is you, the African-American teacher. So often teachers of other races and cultures instruct our African-American youth throughout their school careers. With the current trend in demographics and the increased number of minority students in our schools, it is imperative that students have role models that look like them. It is also important that students have teachers with similar cultural experiences. It is important that African-American students receive equal educational opportunities and are encouraged to reach their fullest potential. As a race, we cannot afford to allow our students anything other than the best educational experience possible. You, the prospective African-American teacher, are needed in classrooms everywhere.

Why should African-American students in college choose teaching? In our society, education for minority children is increasingly more important and necessary than ever before. A good solid education will prepare our youth to compete in society. Teachers are needed who can motivate and educate minority students to meet the challenges of competing for fair housing, fair education, and fair job opportunities that still exist in America.

Teaching is a commitment to lifelong learning and rewards. Children who have no sense of worth, or who constantly experience failure, do not look forward to attending school nor will they gain academic success. Teachers that understand and relate to the African-American culture can impel students to reach beyond their potential in preparation for adulthood and the challenges of a global society. Teachers have a great influence on students and can make a difference. When the best and the brightest pursue a career in education, the missing link will become the connecting chain.

The latest research according to the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future indicates American schools will need two million teachers in the next decade. There is a strong need for male and female African-American teachers in every facet of education from classroom teachers to building administrators to district superintendents. Teachers are needed who are able to successfully work the diversity of America’s student population. In 1997, the American Association of Employment in Education reported the greatest shortage of teachers in the areas of special education, math, speech therapists, and bilingual education. Computer teachers, life science and physical science teachers are showing increased shortages. Are you a candidate for teaching? Do you have a keen interest in a specific field of education? Do you enjoy working with children? Do you possess leadership qualities? Are you creative? Are you patient and warm? Do you have a sense of humor? Are you exceptionally skilled in a certain subject or a multitude of subjects? Are you a team player and, most of all, do you have the ability to effectively communicate with all kinds of people? Are you willing to make a difference? Are you the missing link? If you can respond yes to these questions, you are the missing link. "Not seeing African Americans in teaching positions confirms for students the societal myth that African Americans are

intellectually inferior and cannot succeed in careers that require a college degree. Seeing African-American teachers helps to dispel such a concept," proclaims Flora Davis Crittenden, a delegate to the House of Representatives for the Commonwealth of Virginia in Newport News. A former educator and counselor in public education for over 40 years, Crittenden works diligently to promote the value of education and teaching. She serves on several boards, committees, and task forces that formulate programs and activities to increase minority children’s success in school and foster understanding and interaction between schools and the community.

As a legislator, Crittenden serves on a legislative committee established for the purpose of recommending strategies to encourage minorities to enter the field of education. She states, " In order for efforts to prepare minority students to become academically proficient and help prepare them for higher education, the pool of minority teachers should ultimately increase." She also believes programs and initiatives on national, state and local levels should promote the recruitment and retention of minorities to the teaching profession. According to Crittenden, " in order for the success of our programs and initiatives to occur, we must be assured our recruitment efforts employ African- American teachers."

Credentials, Salary and Benefits

Although teaching is not necessarily a lucrative field financially, good fringe benefits are usually provided. The rewards derived from helping young people grow and develop into productive citizens are enormous, particularly those youth who are stigmatized by society. Teaching requires a bachelor’s degree and the obtainment of a teaching certificate. Most states except for Idaho, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont and Washington require licensing exams for certification. The average beginning teacher salary has increased 24 percent in the last several years. According to the American Federation of Teachers, the beginning salary average for a teacher in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree was $25,735 with a high of $33, 162 in Alaska to a low of 19,146 in North Dakota. Current educational reforms on the local, state and national levels continue to address the need to increase teacher salaries in order to recruit African-American teachers into the field of education.

The benefits of teaching in most states include a 10-month contract, personal and sick leave days, retirement and healthcare packages, holiday and summer vacation time, professional development and family medical leave. When you begin to make career choices, consider the rewards of the entire package of teaching and not just the annual salary. Teaching is a valuable profession for African Americans to contemplate as we've entered the new millennium.

Making a Difference

Consider education as a choice for career development when you enter college for the first time or if you are undecided about which career path to follow. Unless, African-American students choose teaching, our youth could complete a K-12 academic program and never encounter an African-American teacher. Remember your elementary, middle and high school years and the number of African-American teachers you encountered. Remember the impact these teachers had in your life and the power teachers’ hold that can positively or negatively affect children.

Children today need someone to care, encourage, and reward them as they pass from year to year. It will not happen if African- American teachers are not in our classrooms. Our youth need to experience teachers of color in positions of authority and respect. Teachers are needed who can demonstrate appropriate instructional programs based on culture and achievement. Academic excellence must be a goal for our youth and teachers to achieve. Teachers impact the future and shape the lives of our youth. When African-

American teachers are not part of the team, it is unlikely the majority of African-American students will be stimulated to work to a high level of competence. There is an ever-growing increase of minority students in public schools and an ever-growing need to introduce multi-culturalism into the curriculum and classroom.

According to a National Education Association Study, almost one-third of the students in U.S. public schools are minorities. The recruitment initiatives across the nation for qualified African- American teachers are a result of the shortage of teachers caused by low salaries, retirements, career changes, and the difficulty of some minority collegians to meet requirements for state certification. Successful recruitment efforts on national, state and local levels must continue to improve teacher preparation programs, salaries and benefits, yet emphasize the profession as attractive and inviting. There is a desperate need for more African- American teachers as the number of minority students in our schools continues to escalate.

Conclusion

The society in which we live is very competitive. To live well and compete will require an education beyond high school.

We owe it to our youth to prepare them for the challenges of adulthood and to enable them to become productive citizens. If you choose not to meet the challenges of a career in teaching, and take advantage of the vast opportunities and rewards of teaching, then do not expect many African Americans to become a leading force in the 21st century. The missing link in education is the African- American teacher. The choice is yours!

Additional Resources

Recruiting New Teachers, Inc.
National Center for Teacher Recruitment

RNT Careers in Teaching Handbook
385 Concord Avenue
Suite 103
Belmont, MA 02478
(617) 489-6000
www.rnt.org

"The Student Guide"
U.S. Department of Education
1-800-4-FED-AID
www.fafsa.ed.gov

Dr. Margaret R. Buxton is a human resources specialist with Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Virginia Beach, VA. She is also an adjunct professor at Regent University in Virginia Beach. Dr. Buxton assists teachers through diversity training in how to build success with diverse populations. She is also a consultant and lecturer.