The school is boosting its efforts though the African American Male Teacher Initiative.
According to their website, the program is funded by Apple, and is one part of the Apple Community Education Initiatives partnership the university has entered into with the technology company.
“Black male teachers are more apt to be culturally responsive, culturally sensitive to the needs of those young black men,” Rivers said. “So that reduces a lot of the angst and prejudices that we have.”
Ken Zarifis, the president of Austin ISD’s teacher’s union, agreed with Rivers’ assessment.
“That’s ultimately what we want,” Zarifis told the outlet. “So we have a rich experience in schools, so that every kid going to school has a rich, fulfilling experience where they see themselves, but also others so that they become a fuller person.”
“In an effort to alleviate the shortages of African-American male teachers in public classrooms, I wholeheartedly believe that HBCUs must be at the forefront in recruiting and preparing African-American males to teach,” Rivers said. “If it’s a Black problem, why shouldn’t HBCUs be at the forefront of problem-solving?”
He continued, “A popular 21st-century term is innovation, but when someone tries to be innovative, the “system” at times intentionally and unintentionally forces that individual to revert to the status quo or familiar territory. Partnering with private industries to increase the number of Black male teachers is innovative but not unheard of, but more is needed to put a more significant dent in the shortage of African American male teachers.”
She added, “From ongoing professional development to hands-on digital training with state-of-the-art devices to learning app development in an effort to advance a 22nd-century approach to learning, HT is dedicated to the success of this program, and we’re proud to partner with Apple to bring this opportunity to our students.”
As Kai Turntine, one of the students in this year’s cohort who wants to become a school superintendent, told the outlet, one of his primary motivations is to assure young Black kids that there are more paths to success than the streets or sports.
“My goal is to give kids inspiration. Some kids where I am from think sports is everything and I just want to tell people football will end, basketball will end, whatever sport you are playing will end and then you don’t give up on life,” Turntine said. “You don’t quit, you don’t say, oh I didn’t make it in this. Some people where I am from go to the streets or somewhere else.”
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Source: Black Enterprise
