SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) today launched 43 affinity groups across the state to boost retention for teachers of color. ISBE partnered with Sangamon-Menard Regional Office of Education (ROE) 51, Teach Plus Illinois, and the Golden Apple Foundation to bring the initiative to life.
Teacher leaders selected and trained to facilitate the affinity groups will bring together local educators of color to build a supportive community, examine current issues facing them in the teaching profession, and make recommendations to address those issues. ISBE established the initiative to improve teacher retention and help meet Illinois' high demand for educators.
“The surest way to combat the teacher shortage is to keep the excellent teachers we have,"
said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “As an educator of color myself, I understand how isolating it can be for our teachers of color, who are often the only leaders of color in their schools. Affinity groups provide a healing space to network, foster a sense of community, and work together to solve common problems. Illinois is a diverse state with a diverse student population. Teachers of color are powerful role models for all students, and if we retain more of our teachers of color – everyone benefits."
ISBE began reporting the three-year teacher retention rate disaggregated by race/ethnicity for the first time in 2021. The data show that Illinois schools retain Black teachers at the lowest rate of all teacher groups – 80.6 percent -- compared to an 87.6 percent rate for White teachers.
Affinity group facilitators will host inaugural meetings with participants this month. The groups will meet monthly outside of school hours in a range of settings – schools, public libraries, virtual settings, and other community spaces. The groups, organized by and for educators of color, have access to implementation funds to support group activities, including stipends for participants serving on advocacy action teams.
Educators of color across the state can sign up to participate in an affinity group by filling out an interest form at
isbe.net.
A list of the affinity groups, including districts and geographic areas, is available on the Teach Plus Illinois Affinity Group Network
webpage.
Partner Quotes
Teach Plus, a national nonprofit that empowers teachers to lead improvements in educational policy and instructional practice, led the selection process of the affinity group facilitators and is supporting the leadership development of the facilitators.
“I am thrilled by the renewed attention and support for educators of color across the state that this initiative brings with it," said Clarissa Williams, Illinois Affinity Group program director. “As we plan and co-create the Illinois Affinity Group Network, we hope the possibilities of its impacts on other educators of color and their students will be far reaching and build momentum needed for lasting and holistic change. Educators of color face numerous challenges within the profession. We hope the affinity group spaces facilitated throughout the state will support in providing a space to navigate the range of unfavorable conditions and challenges they face while also creating opportunities to identify and elevate needs with solutions for change."
Golden Apple, a nonprofit committed to preparing, supporting, and mentoring aspiring teachers, will have five participants who have completed its Scholars program host affinity groups in districts throughout the state. Golden Apple's Scholars program provides teacher preparation and tuition assistance for high school seniors as well as freshman and sophomore college students in Illinois who have the determination and drive to teach. Throughout the history of the program, 53% of Golden Apple Scholars have been of color.
"We are proud to have Golden Apple Scholars host affinity groups across the state through this meaningful new partnership,"
said Golden Apple President Alan Mather. "We want students to see themselves reflected in their teachers, and helping retain educators of color in the profession is a critical part of that. These groups will create spaces for teachers of color to support one another and navigate challenges they face. We look forward to seeing the impact the initiative will have on encouraging these educators to stay in the classroom."
Sangamon-Menard ROE 51 provides educational opportunities, builds partnerships with stakeholders, and coordinates state and local services for educators, school districts, and the community.
“The Sangamon-Menard Regional Office of Education is proud to partner on this initiative that strengthens the teacher workforce and supports educators of color," said Regional Superintendent Shannon Fehrholz of ROE 51. “If we want to improve diversity within the teacher workforce, creating a supportive space for those educators and listening to their recommendations is an important step."
Facilitator Quotes
“I am excited to be in partnership with educators that want to captivate the work needed to support all our educators and students of color. I am dedicated to advocating, building, engaging, and lifting voices with my colleagues to implement authentic sustainable change," said Tiauna King, an elementary learning behavior specialist in Naperville Community School District 203.
“It is an honor to be a part of a diverse community of educators who are committed to hearing, understanding, and uplifting the voices of the often unheard. I believe that our affinity group spaces will lead to enlightening and everlasting changes to the teaching profession for teachers of color through our state," said Linda Wilson, a music teacher and Grow Your Own director in Peoria Public Schools District 150.
“It feels incredible to help connect Golden Apple teachers and professionals across our community. I aim to create a support system and an open, safe space for our teacher and professional leaders to relate, release, and recharge in efforts to continue the challenging yet necessary work we all do daily,"
said Kayla Goodloe, a job coach at Pavilion School in Urbana School District 116.
“As a Black male elementary school teacher of 14 years, it has taken over a decade for me to find a space such as the Teach Plus Affinity Groups where I can not only be my authentic self, but receive confirmation my story is shared, respected, and understood," said Reggie Duncan, a fifth grade mathematics/science teacher in Mascoutah School District 19.
