The Learning Center for the Deaf has been selected to participate in the Massachusetts Teacher Diversification Professional Learning Community Program.
TLC is one of only 100 schools statewide who will join the year-long program.
Launched in April 2019, the Teacher Diversification Pilot Program is a state-funded pilot grant program that provides approximately $2 million in competitive funding to support local school and district efforts to strengthen and diversify existing teacher recruitment and retention programs.
The program is sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Education Center for Strategic Initiatives (CSI). CSI coordinates and partners with stakeholders to identify, design, pilot, and elevate strategies that advance educational equity for Massachusetts students, particularly those who are traditionally or currently underserved. We are currently focused on three overarching priorities: 1) a diverse and culturally responsive workforce; 2) diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and practices at DESE; and 3) direct efforts that promote equitable student access and outcomes.
TLC’s goal in participating in this program is to support schools’ understanding of how to implement strategy centered on cultural proficiency, support and strengthen recruitment and retention, and center race and identity through cultural proficiency.
The program offers opportunities to meet with hundreds of other school leaders, diversity, equity and inclusion professionals, and out of district coordinators, on a monthly basis.
The team representing TLC are: Superintendent Glennis Matthews; Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer Kyle Amber Clark; Chief People Officer Isidore Niyongabo; Director of Education Initiatives Shira Grabelsky, and Director of Curriculum Toni Ammirati.
“We are looking forward to working together as we improve the ongoing trajectory to improve the racially and ethnically teacher workforce, and create more equitable learning experiences for our students and families through equity lens,” Amber Clark said.