Raising Up Black Male Teachers

Recent research from the American Institute for Boys and Men found Black male enrollment has fallen, both nationally and at historically Black colleges and universities, to 25 percent and 26 percent, respectively.

One of the barriers for Black students in their educational pursuits is a lack of representation in the field, according to the report. “The scarcity of Black male teachers means Black boys may not view academic success as attainable or relevant to them, further discouraging their pursuit of higher education.” Fewer than 2 percent of teachers nationwide are Black men.  

A February report from the United Negro College Fund found Black teachers significantly impact Black students’ educational development by serving as role models, improving their educational experience and also improving student success metrics such as graduation and college enrollment rates, math and reading scores, and end-of-year grades.

Similarly, non-Black teachers may hold biases against Black students or have lower expectations for them, limiting their academic performance and aspirations throughout their education.

To promote Black student success in K-12 and higher education, colleges and universities can support interventions that support Black men in teaching roles.

What works: UNCF’s report found, to build a Black teacher pipeline, historically Black colleges and universities have employed:

• Personal and professional recruitment models. Finding students to enroll in teacher education programs requires partnerships with those in P-12 settings, as well as community partners, to identify traditional-aged students and those who worked in school systems but were not licensed to practice as a fully certified teacher.
• Financial aid. Tuition and fees associated with tests and certification were barriers to some students looking to become teachers, making fiscal support critical.
• Early alert system. Colleges took a holistic approach to student support, ensuring future teachers were flagged when they demonstrated additional need. 

• Maintaining high expectations. Staff and faculty members reminded students of the history of their institution and instilled a pride in continuing on the legacy of their work for future generations.
• Culturally responsive curriculum. Students are prepared to engage in culturally and historically affirming literature and theoretical frameworks as educators.
• Mentoring. Role modeling from faculty members or staff helped build interpersonal relationships among students and create a supportive network. 

Programs or interventions that include these factors can improve retention and graduation rates for aspiring Black male teachers in higher education.

1. Call Me MiSTER: Clemson University  

The Call Me MiSTER program, short for Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models, was first started at Clemson University in 2000, and now it has chapters on college campuses across the country to train teachers from diverse, historically underrepresented backgrounds.

Call Me MiSTER participants receive tuition assistance through loan forgiveness programs, in addition to academic support, cohort engagement for social and cultural needs, and assistance with job placement.

To be eligible, students must submit an essay about their motivation for becoming a teacher and the contributions they hope to make to the professor and their community through teaching, and an essay about how the program will benefit the learner.

A 2019 peer-reviewed study of the program found Call Me MiSTER graduates “have been aggressively sought after by superintendents, principals and district human resource recruiters” for the K-8 system. A majority of graduates work in high-poverty, academically challenged or Title I schools, as well.

2. Black Male Teachers College: Bowie State University 

A lack of representation in education doesn’t only hinder students’ college pursuits—it can also limit their career ambitions. Bowie State’s Black Male Teachers College is one effort to encourage Black male high school students to consider teaching through weekly programming and networking opportunities.

High school students of any age are eligible to participate in the workshops, programs and activities, which mostly take place on Saturday mornings. Sessions explore college preparation, cultural identity, career preparation, financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

Participants also receive mentorship from Black college professors, college students and Black male teachers, as well as opportunities to engage with their peers and other leaders in the state of Maryland.

Bowie State received $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Education’s Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program grants in 2023 to recruit and prepare Black male educators.

3. The He Is Me Fellowship 

Beyond encouraging Black men to pursue teaching, groups work to dig into Black male teachers’ intersectionality of identity and the impact they can have. The He Is Me Institute, an education nonprofit focused on Black male attainment and careers in education, offers a one-year fellowship for college students interested in teaching to develop themselves and their skills before entering the workforce.

The 11-month fellowship includes asynchronous learning modules and regular online seminars; participants have the option of taking a paid teaching role or attending an in-person conference. Upon completion of the fellowship, students earn a certificate and join the He Is Me alumni network.

Students pay nothing out of pocket to participate, as all tuition is covered by partner institutions.

4. Marathon Teaching Institute: North Carolina Central University 

In 2021, North Carolina Central University created the Marathon Teaching Institute to increase the number of Black men who serve as educators and administrators in North Carolina schools.

The program recruits high school and college students to become teachers and provides professional development, academic support, peer-to-peer engagement, licensure exam preparation and mentorship to participants. Additionally, students can receive financial incentives. MTI is more broad than other teaching support programs, hoping to train Black men to educate students from preschool through higher education.

Students must apply, and cohorts begin each fall.

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