Black Teacher Pipeline

Laura and Gary’s daughter, Eliana, was compelled by the research that shows the positive impact that having a Black teacher has on Black students. In particular, Black students who’ve had a Black teacher in elementary school are more likely to graduate from high school and enroll in college—13 percent more likely if they’ve had one Black teacher in elementary school, and over 32 percent, more likely to enroll in colleges if they’ve had two.

Unfortunately, Black teachers are drastically underrepresented in the American teaching force compared to the diversity of America’s student body. Although 15 percent of public school students in the United States identify as Black, only 7 percent of public school teachers identify as Black.

The combination of the benefits of same race teachers and the under-representation of Black teachers in our nation’s teaching corps is a huge missed opportunity. In 2021, the Lauder family partnered with the Center for Black Educator Development to launch the Black Teacher Pipeline, a first-of-its-kind national campaign and comprehensive Black educator development project, that fosters future Black educators by engaging Black high school and college students as teacher pre-apprentices, sponsoring them through fellowship, apprenticeships, and scholarship, and supporting them with mentorship and professional learning opportunities through their first four years in the classroom.

The Laura and Gary Lauder Family Venture Philanthropy Fund offered a challenge grant that was matched by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, Spring Point Partners, Alice Walton through the Walton Family Foundation and Education Leaders of Color.

Laura and Eliana spoke at the 30-minute virtual press conference on Feb. 25, 2021 announcing the new initiative. Excerpts from the announcement and their remarks:

Learn more on the Center for Black Educator Development’s website.

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