ABOUT ITOC
Context
Research has repeatedly established that teachers of Color play an instrumental role in the success of students of color. Even so, while students of Color make up almost 50% of the national public school student population, teachers of Color comprise just 18% of teachers. Teachers of Color also leave the field at an alarming rate of 24% more per year than their white counterparts. Despite an increased focus on recruitment and retention, research has illuminated that teachers of Color are often neglected in their teacher preparation and professional development, racialized professionally, and overlooked for leadership roles in schools. These factors all serve as barriers in their retention and professional growth.
Who we Are
ITOC is an annual three-day professional development to support the growth, success and retention of teachers of Color who work in public schools serving students of Color. A unique collaboration between the disciplines of Teacher Education, Educational Leadership, and Ethnic Studies, this national conference rigorously selects approximately 100 ITOC Fellows each summer to cultivate their racial justice leadership capacities as educational change agents.
Institute Story
After facilitating a workshop for teachers of Color at a social justice teacher conference in 2010 with standing room only, we realized that this population of teachers was in high need of a separate and safe space to process their racialized experiences and engage in responsive professional development- and a two hour workshop was not enough. Teachers of Color who are committed to racial justice need a place to strengthen their praxis and realize their potential as leaders in schools serving communities of Color. We decided that by bridging our interdisciplinary expertise, we could develop cutting-edge professional development to support the growth of teacher leaders of Color through critical race frameworks. We aim to create a community of like-minded educators who can effectively navigate the racialized context of urban schools and lead racial justice school reform efforts.
Mission
We serve educators with advanced racial literacies who demonstrate potential for racial justice leadership in public schools. Using critical race frameworks, ITOC is intended as a community building, professional development space for teachers of Color to explore the racial climate of their schools, receive leadership training to navigate these realities, and strategize how to create racially transformative classrooms and schools.
Research has repeatedly established that teachers of Color play an instrumental role in the success of students of color. Even so, while students of Color make up almost 50% of the national public school student population, teachers of Color comprise just 18% of teachers. Teachers of Color also leave the field at an alarming rate of 24% more per year than their white counterparts. Despite an increased focus on recruitment and retention, research has illuminated that teachers of Color are often neglected in their teacher preparation and professional development, racialized professionally, and overlooked for leadership roles in schools. These factors all serve as barriers in their retention and professional growth.
Who we Are
ITOC is an annual three-day professional development to support the growth, success and retention of teachers of Color who work in public schools serving students of Color. A unique collaboration between the disciplines of Teacher Education, Educational Leadership, and Ethnic Studies, this national conference rigorously selects approximately 100 ITOC Fellows each summer to cultivate their racial justice leadership capacities as educational change agents.
Institute Story
After facilitating a workshop for teachers of Color at a social justice teacher conference in 2010 with standing room only, we realized that this population of teachers was in high need of a separate and safe space to process their racialized experiences and engage in responsive professional development- and a two hour workshop was not enough. Teachers of Color who are committed to racial justice need a place to strengthen their praxis and realize their potential as leaders in schools serving communities of Color. We decided that by bridging our interdisciplinary expertise, we could develop cutting-edge professional development to support the growth of teacher leaders of Color through critical race frameworks. We aim to create a community of like-minded educators who can effectively navigate the racialized context of urban schools and lead racial justice school reform efforts.
Mission
We serve educators with advanced racial literacies who demonstrate potential for racial justice leadership in public schools. Using critical race frameworks, ITOC is intended as a community building, professional development space for teachers of Color to explore the racial climate of their schools, receive leadership training to navigate these realities, and strategize how to create racially transformative classrooms and schools.
