Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers, the non-profit organization that has been successfully addressing the serious shortage of teachers of color, will launch a program at four Boston public high schools this September. A total of 50 students will be mentored and encouraged to pursue teaching careers. As part of the program, Lesley College will initially serve as a college partner that will offer scholarships to qualified TSTT students who pursue teaching careers. Going forward, other area colleges are expected to become TSTT partners.
The Boston rollout, combined with the participation of schools in Andover, Arlington, Brookline, Lexington and Worcester where TSTT mentoring programs have been underway for the last few years, will bring to 150 the total number of potential new teachers of color in Massachusetts, thanks to the TSTT model that began 20 years ago. Today, there are over 115 TSTT alumni teachers who are shaping the lives of more than150,000 students in 10 states, and more than 700 high school and college students who are on their way to becoming teachers in four states including Massachusetts.
The adoption of the TSTT model in Boston addresses a lack of teachers of color in America's classrooms. On May 2, Congressman n James E. Clyburn of the 6th Congressional District, South Carolina, joined a growing number of prominent policy makers and educators to recognize TSTT. During his keynote video address at the organization’s 20th anniversary (“Living the Vision”) kickoff celebration, he said that TSTT was a viable and valuable national model model that is creating a new generation of teachers of color who will inspire their students to succeed. “Failing to do that, America is at risk of losing its competitive edge at home and on the international stage,” warned Congressman Clyburn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Trh4HG_Mw
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The launch of TSTT’s teacher mentoring program in Boston public schools is a big story. For education journalists interested in undertaking coverage, interviews with Dr. Bettye Perkins, the organization’s President and founder as well as with students and school officials and teachers who will participate can be arranged. Another option to round out the Massachusetts story is to interview some of the 2014 high school graduates in Worcester (seven total) who were mentored and are heading to college in September. For more information, contact Frank Pagani, Frank@PaganiPR.com, 914 843-5079
