Nat LaCour (left) 

Teaching is the profession that provides the most benefit to society. That's not just my opinion. It's a belief widely held by Americans, according to a recent poll conducted by the organization Recruiting New Teachers. Men and women of color have always done much to support our public schools, but there is a critical area where we need to do more. America's public schools need more African-American teachers.

America faces a looming teacher shortage that some have called a "demographic train wreck." Rising student enrollments and record teacher retirements will require the nation to hire 2.2 million new teachers over the next decade. Of course, these teachers must be talented, caring, and well prepared. The question is: will they reflect the tremendous diversity of the students they will serve?  Not without a concerted effort. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 16 percent of public school students are African American, compared to less than eight percent of teachers, a number that has been declining. There is no shortage of well-educated and well-intentioned African Americans in the workforce. But the reality is that talented people of color today have many more doors open to them. Those successes were hard fought. But we have another fight on our hands – strengthening our public schools - and we'll need foot soldiers to achieve victory.

The teacher shortage has prompted many school officials to look far and wide for good teachers, and many will make hiring people of color a priority. But that's only half the equation. The African-American community must do our part - first by valuing and supporting public education, but also by respecting teaching as a career choice and encouraging talented African Americans to consider a career in education. That may mean asking yourself if teaching is the right choice for your life's work. Children's experience with teachers as authority figures helps shape their opinions about the society in which they live. Every teacher should be culturally sensitive, but students also should have contact with teachers with whom they can easily identify. It is important for all students to be exposed to men and women of color in positive and influential roles such as teachers.

African Americans have always fought for quality and equality in public education. We've had some tremendous successes. Across the country, students in public schools have made great strides in recent years - and poor and minority students have posted the most dramatic gains. The so-called minority achievement gap is closing. Reforms are taking hold. But we can't let up. Despite this budding renaissance in American education, threats to public schools are multiplying. Resource-starved schools must fight for adequate resources. Too many districts still look past proven reforms toward fads and experiments like privatization. Voucher schemes have failed, which means they have failed children - large numbers of them minority children. Yet, vouchers remain a favorite program of enemies of public schools.

One of the best ways to have a positive effect on the public schools (attended by 90% of American children) is to work from the inside. I welcome all who would offer their time and talents to help students in public schools reach new heights of achievement. But I make a special appeal to African Americans to consider a career that has the power to change lives, the profession that provides the most benefit to society -teaching.

Nat LaCour is the executive vice president of the American Federation of Teachers, Washington, D.C.