Support for Current + Aspiring Teachers
Addressing the social, emotional, and housing needs of Black male teachers-in-training.
Our flagship program, The Village Initiative, supplements the curriculum of existing credentialing programs, and pays particular attention to prospective Black men, who according to many studies, are discriminated against because they are Black and male and because most new teachers are white women.
Supporting the Educator Pathway
FUTURE EDUCATORS
Recruitment of young men who would be future teachers, to engage in workshops, guest speaker series, and site visits to schools and districts. They also work as teachers in the summer at Freedom School sites across the city.
TRAINING + DEVELOPMENT
Fellows enter our 2-year residency. As residents, they receive wrap-around supports: Components of Care, Trauma-Informed Learning, Financial Literacy and Homebuying, Therapy, Life Coaching, &Housing. They enter Phase I of the credential program at CSUDH.
STUDENT TEACHING
Phase II + III of the credential program at CSUDH where they begin student teaching. They receive continued support with life coaching, therapy, housing, and a $35,000 living stipend. This final year is where they are matched with a mentor teacher for the school year.
CLASSROOM TEACHER
The residency program is completed and they receive their teaching credential. This is their first year in classroom as teacher of record. Fellows continue in our network and get support from the Village which includes ongoing workshops and leadership development.
MENTOR TEACHER
Fellows are invited to join various types of affinity groups to receive ongoing support and leadership development to begin exploring leadership roles in education and other retention efforts to grow as highly effective educators who are on the pathway to homeownership. Opportunities to give back exist as they are invited to be mentor teachers to future Village residents.
