Why We Need More African-American Teachers

Ronald O. Ross (left)

For more than 20 years, I taught and was a principal in New York City. I took the “A Train” through Manhattan every day to get to my school, and I saw people from all walks of life. I looked at prosperous businesspeople and realized that my profession provided rewards that they might never know. To my mind, they could get stock options that split and split and split again. They would never know the fulfillment I got from teaching. I was the most satisfied person in New York.

The impact that teachers can have on children is powerful. A caring teacher can change a student’s life. In my own life, I can attest to the impact of Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Roe, two outstanding teachers who supported me. Largely, the work I have done in my career and the satisfaction I’ve received from it are a direct result of the validation and support I received from Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Roe. There is a dire need for more teachers who care and work to validate children. Children are not empty vessels. All children have it in them to succeed. What we do as teachers is like mining for diamonds. What we find may be rough and may need to be polished. But at the core is a diamond, and it is our job as professional educators to bring it out.

The need for more African-American teachers is especially critical. When you look at national SAT scores, you see disparities between African-American students and white students, even at the upper income levels. Why is that? A lack of diversity among classroom teachers is a chief reason—too few classroom teachers are African American. The result is that African-American students are too often taught and judged by teachers whose perceptions of them are not valid. High expectations on the part of teachers result in strong performance by students; low expectations result in poor performance. Too many teachers don’t see a scholar when they look at a Black student. Teaching must once again become the first career choice for African- American young people. We are all where we are because of the struggles of others. We must give back. It is an awesome responsibility, but it is also the most fulfilling thing in the world. No corporate bonus can ever replace the feeling, the high, of connecting with the kids in a classroom.

I call on more young African Americans, especially if they are unclear about their career goals, to give at least five or 10 years at the start of their careers to teaching. You will experience the joy of touching children’s lives. You will change America!

Ronald O. Ross is superintendent of Mount Vernon (NY) Public Schools.