Monroe County’s 1,060 or so black students make up nearly 12% of the student population. The county school district includes only 12 black educators, or 2% of the overall faculty.
Key West philanthropist John Padget has teamed up with Rev. Darryl Robinson, pastor of Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Church, to launch Monroe County’s Black Educator Initiative with the goal of making the local teachers’ demographics more closely match that of the students.
The Black Educator Initiative will support new and prospective black resident educators who plan to study or teach in the Florida Keys, states a press release about the initiative.
“The purpose of this initiative is to achieve educator demographic equality, more closely matching student demographics,” Padget said.
Robinson is taking the lead among a small group of teachers and community activists to implement the initiative.
“Extensive research has revealed that black students who have some exposure to black educators during their primary and secondary school years have better educational outcomes,” Robinson said.
The Golden Fleece Foundation, which Padget started with his late partner Jacob Dekker, plans to offer fellowships, scholarships and housing grants to eligible black students and teachers who meet all the qualifications.
Grant, scholarship and fellowship candidates “must be an enrolled college student (majoring in education), or a new prospective educator in Monroe County schools, exhibit a strong desire to live and work in Monroe County, and build a teaching career in Monroe County,” states the program’s criteria.
The Golden Fleece Foundation’s board of directors will make all grant decisions and will make awards on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Potential grants include:
2022 Teacher Fellowships
Purpose: To attract black new-to-county teachers.
Grant awards: $15,000 for year one, $10,000 for year two, and $5,000 for year three.
Candidates must have accepted a teaching position in a Monroe County school.
2022 Study Scholarships
Purpose: To encourage black residents to accumulate higher education credits, enabling them to qualify to teach in Monroe County.
Grant awards: Up to $5,000 per year.
2022 Student Teaching Housing Grant
Purpose: To enable black new-to-county students to obtain teaching experience as part of their curriculum leading to a bachelor’s degree.
Grant awards: Up to $5,000 per year.
For more information or to apply for the Black Educator Initiative, contact Robinson at DrRobinson@blackeducatorinitiative.com.
