The Hamilton County Schools Foundation (HCSF) is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in education, aligning with the Tennessee State Board of Education's policy on Diversity and Inclusion.
To be clear, HCSF is the nonprofit foundation supporting the Hamilton County Department of Education (HCDE), which operates our school system.
Back to our grant. Male Teachers of Color (MTOC) is an inaugural cohort in Hamilton County Schools with ten dedicated participants. They are both new and veteran teachers from all grade bands (elementary, middle, and high) and all five learning communities. MTOC aims to support, develop, and retain current male teachers here in Hamilton County Schools. Hamilton County Schools aims to make the teaching population as diverse as the student population it serves by attracting, cultivating, developing, and retaining a talented and diverse workforce.
So how do we retain them? Our $3,000 grant will be used to fund professional development opportunities for the MTOC participants. They will engage in a book study and assist the Talent Acquisition team in recruiting additional male teachers of color to the district by paying for recruitment materials, such as business cards, marketing videos, uniforms, etc., that participants will use during the recruitment events. The funds will also be used to fund the meals for MTOC professional development gatherings.
Research consistently underscores the significant advantages of having teachers of color in classrooms. Their presence positively influences student achievement, post-secondary aspirations, gifted program enrollment, reduced suspension rates for students of color, and overall student attitudes and motivations. This goes beyond representation; it's about delivering all students the best possible educational experience.