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Recognizing and honoring Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia charter school, Drexel University, and The Center for Black Educator Development for the launch of the Boys’ Latin Teaching Fellowship, a partnership that seeks to create a pipeline of male teachers of color in Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, Only 2% of educators in American public schools are Black men. In Philadelphia, 54% of students are Black, 23% of teachers are Black, and only 4% of educators are Black men. Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia charter school serves 100% male students and 99% students. At Boys’ Latin, only 3 out of 63 (4.8%) faculty members are Black men; and
WHEREAS, As a school founded to prepare Black boys for success in college and beyond, the Boys’ Latin Teaching Fellowship is designed to address the lack of Black male teachers in Philadelphia, and to ensure students at Boys’ Latin have access to high-quality teachers who look like them and share their lived experiences; and
WHEREAS, The Boys’ Latin Teaching Fellowship launched in September 2020 consists of two programs that establish teaching positions for Black men interested in careers in education. The Teaching Apprenticeship seeks qualified candidates to consider a career in teaching by participating in a program that exposes them to the instructional and student engagement duties of a teacher. Apprentices support middle and high school classrooms across all subject areas, along with providing additional support to students as they adjust to an online learning environment. The Teaching Residency begins the formal education and practice that will result in teacher certification from Drexel University. Unlike traditional public schools in Pennsylvania, up to 25% of teachers in a charter school do not need to be certified; and
WHEREAS, The inaugural class includes three teaching residents and seven teaching apprentices. Eight residents of the program are Boys’ Latin alumni; and
WHEREAS, The cost of the program for salaries, benefits, and training is fully covered by the program through funding from Boys’ Latin and a foundation; and
WHEREAS, Research shows that Black teachers have an impact on students. According to researchers from Johns Hopkins and American Universities, Black boys are less likely to drop out of high school, and along with Black girls, are more likely to attend college if they have had at least one Black teacher; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the Boys’ Latin Teaching Fellowship is to attract and prepare teaching candidates who will address the sharp racial, socioeconomic, and gender disparities in public education in Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize and honor Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia charter school, Drexel University, and The Center for Black Educator Development for the launch of the Boys’ Latin Teaching Fellowship, a partnership that seeks to create a pipeline of male teachers of color in Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia charter school, Drexel University, and The Center for Black Educator Development as further evidence of the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.
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