Latinos For Education Hosted Groundbreaking Educator Diversity Act Hill Day to Elevate the Voice of Latino Educators in Policymaking
Boston, Massachusetts – 15 educators recently participated in Latinos for Education’s inaugural Educator Diversity Act Hill Day, marking a pivotal moment in the organization’s mission to increase the diversity of educators within the Massachusetts educator workforce. These educators, representing various regions from across the Commonwealth, met with 25 legislative offices to discuss how the Educator Diversity Act (H.549 / S.311) will improve student outcomes and strengthen the educator workforce.
“It is important to center the voice of Latino educators in our advocacy work because they personally navigate and understand the recruitment and retention challenges that keep educators of color from entering or staying in the teaching profession, and have concrete solutions to these challenges,” said Amanda Fernandez, CEO and Founder of Latinos for Education.
The Educator Diversity Act is a landmark bill designed to strengthen the Massachusetts educator pipeline by addressing teacher preparation, recruitment and retention issues.
“As an educator of eleven years, advocating for my students and coworkers often starts and stops at our school building’s doors. This briefing provided a space to hear directly from current educators and student experiences,” said Kimmy Tremlett, TeachPlus Policy Fellow. “The Educator Diversity Act equips districts with the necessary tools to hire and retain the impactful educators that our students deserve.”
If fully enacted, the Educator Diversity Act would establish an Educator Diversity Data Dashboard, create multiple pathways to enter the teaching profession, empower educators of color through Educator Diversity Councils, and support diversity and inclusion efforts across all districts.
The bill would also help close the growing representation gap between students of color in Massachusetts, who make up 40 percent of the entire student population, and educators of color, who only account for 10 percent of all educators.
“The Educator Diversity Act isn’t just about numbers—it’s about building a future where every student can see themselves in their educators. In the classroom, representation can make an immeasurable difference in a student’s life,” said Ralph Saint-Louis, Senior Education Policy Fellow at TeachPlus. “This legislation is a pivotal move towards diversifying our teaching workforce and ensuring that students of all backgrounds feel seen, understood, and inspired. It’s our commitment to our children’s futures.”
Among the 15 educators who participated in the advocacy day were five organizing captains of the Organizing Alliance, a dynamic group Latino educators and school leaders who leverage their experience in the education system to advocate for the Educator Diversity Act.
“A commitment to diversity benefits all students across the Commonwealth and the nation as a whole,” said Kelly Garcia, an organizing captain for Latinos for Education. “We joined forces and visited with legislators at the State House, urging them to support the EDA and we thanked those who have co-sponsored the bill.”
Media interested in speaking with the organizing captains who participated in the Educator Diversity Hill Day, or Latinos for Education staff about the status of the bill, can contact Jayla Shannon at [email protected].
