Recruiting Minority Teachers: The UTOP Program. Fastback 436.
Author(s):
Rettig, Perry R.; Khodavandi, Mehraban; Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation, Bloomington, In.
Format:
Report
Publisher:
1998.
Language:
English
Abstract:
This booklet examines the need to recruit minority teachers, highlighting the Urban Teachers Outreach Program (UTOP) currently being implemented in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The UTOP's collaborative effort between Lakeland College and the Sheboygan Area School District has helped minority members of public schools' classified staff (mostly teacher aides) earn bachelor's degrees and teacher certification. The minorities involved are mainly Southeast Asian (primarily Hmong from Laos) and Hispanic. Section 1 of the booklet introduces the topic. Section 2 describes the changing demographics of society, schools, and the teaching force. Section 3 examines the need for minority teachers and reasons for the decline in their numbers. Section 4 presents possibilities for solving the problem (school partnerships, higher education initiatives, multicultural curriculum, minority students and standardized tests, and minority students and mentors). Section 5 describes the Lakeland College UTOP (the setting, beginning the UTOP, the students, challenges and changes, lessons learned, and implications for replication. (Contains 38 references.) (SM)