Addressing the Need for BIPOC Educators in Massachusetts
Students across Western Massachusetts can count on Teach Western Mass to deliver diverse teacher candidates to their classrooms to foster vibrant learning environments.
Addressing the Need for BIPOC Educators in Massachusetts
Teach Western Mass (TWM) sought to create a new organizational roadmap to address several pressing challenges arising in the education sector. One notable challenge the education nonprofit aimed to tackle: the significant decline of new teachers produced by Massachusetts Education Preparation Programs – particularly the decline in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) teacher candidates that has mirrored the decrease in the overall teacher supply, impacting diversity in the education workforce. CoSpero supported TWM to rethink its approach to communications, operations, fundraising, and teacher residency programming through strategic planning and implementation.
Charting a Transformative Course for TWM
CoSpero embarked on the strategic planning process by analyzing the talent needs in partner districts and explorating the local educator preparation landscape. We examined program participants’ + district partners’ feedback and sector data to guide the development of a plan reflective of key voices and responsive to the current educational landscape. Over the course of the year, CoSpero engaged TWM staff, board, and stakeholders in empathy interviews, focus groups, and working sessions to establish meaningful goals and refined strategic recommendations for the organization.
Fostering a Vibrant Community through Action
Alongside TWM board members, funders, and additional trusted advisors, CoSpero wrote a 5-year strategic plan that prioritizes responsiveness to environmental factors – such as the COVID slide and the dwindling attraction to the teaching profession – as well organizational stability for the long haul. Embedded is a one-year implementation plan, inclusive of a timeline, key activities, milestones, accountability and metrics for progress tracking, to guide staff efforts in realigning activities with new organizational goals. By recentering the organization’s commitment to seeing students thrive, we are proud to stand alongside TWM in the next 5 years as they produce the most diverse and highest quality first-year teachers imaginable.
Pema Latshang
Executive Director
Teach Western Mass
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