Fifteen black teachers have been awarded fellowships as the Black Educator Initiative (BEI) moves into its second year, with 11 new teachers hired this school, according to John Padget, founder of the Golden Fleece Foundation (GFF), which funds the BEI fellowships and several other education initiatives.
“Fellowship awards were presented this week to teachers in their respective classrooms by Terry Huff, representing the Golden Fleece Foundation,” Padget said.
Huff is a graduate of North Carolina Central University (NCCU), the nation’s first public liberal arts institution for African Americans and an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) based in Durham, North Carolina.
The $30,000 fellowships are awarded to newly hired black teachers in Monroe County.
Huff said awardees from out-of-county receive $15,000 at the beginning of their first year. Then, coinciding with their continued employment, they receive $10,000 at the start of their second year, and a further $5,000 for their third year.
Research shows that having a black teacher has several positive effects on black students. One study found that black students who had one black teacher by third grade were 7% more likely to graduate high school and 13% more likely to enroll in college. After having two black teachers, black students’ likelihood of enrolling in college increased by 32%.
“We expect this program to expand,” said Bryan Green, GFF board member. “Monroe County School District has around 1,500 black students, 16% of all students. Including the newly hired teachers, the district will now have 22 black teachers — just over 3%. The Black Educator Initiative has made good progress, but the goal is to have teachers that fully represent the demographics of the students.”
Black teachers are encouraged to apply for teaching jobs in Monroe County. See blackeducatatorinitiative.com for details.
The following newly hired teachers in Lower Keys schools have received fellowships through the BEI:
Key West High School: Anita Linville, Lawrence Jones.
Horace O’Bryant School: Riva Jackson, Andrea Jacobs, Patricia Mattis, Alma Hepburn, Tanesha James-Brown, Tara Brooks.
Gerald Adams Elementary: Erica Martin, Stephanie Robinson.
Sugarloaf School: Crystal Dunn.
