More Teaching Opportunities for Minority Men

The State Senate Education Committee approved a bill to increase teaching opportunities for minority men in order to help provide high quality teachers in chronically challenged schools.

The measure has already passed the full Assembly where it’s sponsored by Pam Lampitt, Troy Singleton, Charles Mainor, Bonnie Watson Coleman and Shavonda Sumter.

“If implemented properly, this program could be a win-win to help meet two crucial goals; employing more minority men and providing quality teachers for disadvantaged schools,” said Lampitt.

The legislation seeks to establish a pilot program in the Department of Education (DOE) to recruit and match eligible participants to teach in chronically failing schools under the state’s alternate route teacher preparation program. The participants would be male residents who live in New Jersey and are from disadvantaged or minority backgrounds, interested in pursuing a teaching career, and meet the eligibility criteria for enrolling in the alternate route program.

“If we can help create more diversity within our teaching ranks while meeting the needs of our chronically challenged schools, then I think this will be a win for everyone,” said Mainor.

The commissioner of DOE would select six chronically failing schools from throughout the state for participation.