Brianna Bobo, 2024 Alma Exley Scholar, recently shared her experiences as a first-year teacher with aspiring teachers from Conard and Hall high schools in her hometown of West Hartford.
Ms. Bobo, a social studies teacher at Sedgwick Middle School in West Hartford, spoke to students in the Future Educators of Diversity (FEOD) program. An alumna of FEOD, she described the impact the program had on her and the impact she can have on her students.
Brianna Bobo addresses students.
West Hartford Public Schools maintains partnerships with Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) and the University of Connecticut as part of the district’s “Grow Your Own” teacher-development initiative.
This year, 12 students from Conard and Hall were formally recognized and “pinned,” signifying their commitment to careers in education or service-related fields. With more than 40 students now involved districtwide, the program continues to grow in size and impact.
Jamahl Hines addresses students.
Jamahl Hines, former Conard High School principal, established the FEOD program about six years ago. He continues to support the program in his current role as special assistant to the provost at CCSU.
FEOD functions as both a student leadership initiative and a strategic effort to cultivate a diverse, future-ready teaching workforce. The program supports students from elementary schools through high school, sparking early interest in education and fostering a sense of purpose and belonging. With mentorship, leadership development, and intentional pathways to higher education, FEOD equips students with the tools they need to succeed in teacher preparation programs and beyond.
Editor’s note: This event was first reported in We-Ha.com, the online newsletter about happenings in West Hartford.
Two Alma Exley Scholars played prominent roles in the inaugural conference of the New England chapter of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) in Springfield, Mass.
Dr. Miguel Cardona and Dr. Violet Jiménez Sims
The keynote speaker, former U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Ed.D., whom we honored in 1998, reminded his audience “just how urgently our leadership is needed in this historical moment.” He urged Latino administrators to lead with purpose. He emphasized that everyone in a school district—from the superintendent to paraeducators—should share common values and work toward common goals.
Violet Jiménez Sims, Ed.D. (2008), managing director of academic programming and legislative affairs for the Connecticut Teacher Residency Program (TRP), conducted a workshop on the topic “Quieting the Noise: Courageous Leadership and Advocacy for Diverse and Multilingual Learners.”
Under her leadership, TRP is building a more diverse educator workforce by enabling university graduates to obtain their state teacher certification. Some 90 percent of the future teachers in the program are people of color.
The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents is dedicated to providing leadership development for school and district leaders who serve Latino youth and other historically marginalized students.
Dr. Sims explains data on English-language learners
Space to Reflect and Recommit
Said Dr. Sims, “Huge congratulations to NE ALAS for launching their chapter and creating space for us to reflect and recommit. In times like these, we need spaces that feed our souls and reinforce the principle of lifting as we climb.
“Let’s remember: Our collective power grows when we move with abundance, not scarcity. When we resist the temptation to gatekeep or use the proverbial ‘master’s tools’ to recreate the very systems we aim to dismantle. Representation matters, but impact matters more. And we make the greatest impact when we lead with inclusion, generosity, and purpose.”
Congratulations to Dr. Cardona and Dr. Sims for helping to launch this new organization of Latino educational leaders by sharing the experience and expertise they have gained in their remarkable careers.
Dr. Miguel Cardona, U. S. Secretary of Education and 1998 Alma Exley Scholar, presented a strong case for educator diversity to an audience of more than 200 educators and aspiring educators on Thursday.
He spoke via video at the third annual Increasing Diversity Symposium at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT, sponsored the Connecticut Department of Education and Educators Rising, a program that encourages high school students to pursue careers in education.
Also speaking was Connecticut Commissioner of Education Charlene Russell-Tucker, who said that increasing educator diversity and strengthening the educator pipeline are among her agency’s strategic focus areas. (See story below.)
Diversity Is a “Must-Have”
“Educator diversity matters,” Secretary Cardona said. “It’s not only a good-to-have; it’s a must-have.
“The Biden-Harris team is moving toward a vision of public education that’s ambitious and inclusive when others want to privatize the public good—public education,” he said. “Our vision includes making sure that we have a beautifully diverse workforce of highly qualified teachers—a diversity that matches the diversity of our communities.
“I’m proud to say that Connecticut is leading the way. It’s one of only seven states with an educator diversity goal. From the 2015-16 school year to 2023-24, nearly 2,000 additional educators of color were hired across the state.
He noted that Connecticut has streamlined the process for educators from out-of-state to obtain Connecticut certification. He cited the NextGen program, which pays prospective teachers while they work to obtain credentials and connects them with experienced teachers as mentors. He also mentioned a new state program that provides scholarships to aspiring educators from diverse backgrounds.
National Priority
Secretary Cardona said the U.S. Department of Education is supporting educator-diversity efforts nationally. He said the Department is also fighting for teacher respect and teacher support. He cited what he calls the ABCs of teaching: A is for agency, treating teachers like professionals. B is for better working conditions, making sure they have the tools they need to be successful. C is for competitive salaries, since teachers are paid less than people with similar degrees in other professions. And he added D for diversity.
“Let’s demonstrate the courage to raise the bar for teacher diversity,” he said, “and let’s demonstrate the will to fight boldly and unapologetically for public education.
“At a time when people are attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion, at a time when people want to use vouchers to create a system of haves and have-nots, I tell you this is the best time to be in leadership. This is the best time to fight for diversity in our profession.
“We are fighting for public education,” he said. “We are fighting to lift up the great work of our public schools and our educators. We just have to make sure that they are as beautifully diverse as our country. I’m excited to continue to work together.”
Commissioner Cites Progress But Calls for More
Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker reported that the state’s educators of color increased from 7.8 percent in 2009-10 to over 11 percent this past school year. This represents an increase from 4,130 to more than 6,000 educators of color in the state’s public schools.
But she noted that students of color account for 58.8 percent of the total student body. This amounts to more than 275,000 students of color.
“We have a lot of work to do,” she said. “This work is critically important. Our collective actions demonstrate that we’re not just talking about the problem; we’re about effective solutions and we’re moving forward.
“Our goal is to create a universe of opportunities for all of our students,” she said, citing Educators Rising, scholarships for aspiring teachers, and certification reciprocity among the state’s diversity initiatives.
“We’re leading the charge to ensure that our educator workforce really looks like the students that it serves,” the commissioner said. “Together, we are changing the face of education in Connecticut.”
