What Is Diversity Recruitment and Who’s Doing It?

Some educational organizations may refer to diversity on their campus as ethnic minority groups, men, older persons, persons with disabilities, persons of nontraditional sexual orientation, persons for whom English is a second language, and other nontraditional groups.

As a part of your research on school districts of interest, you should know how diversity is defined and how it is valued. In general, school districts that talk openly about diversity tend to offer greater opportunities for success. Your success.

CAN YOU IDENTIFY SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT EMBRACE DIVERSITY? START WITH ASKING A FEW SIMPLE QUESTIONS

How Do They Define Diversity?

What is a school district’s definition of diversity? Perhaps they think diversity should include the characteristics that influence the lives and the value systems of their student population. How about a geographic location, income, religion, recreational habits, educational background, work experience, parental status, and marital status? Would they say those are all dimensions of diversity?

Is Diversity Recruiting Important to Them?

In today’s culturally blended communities, we are educating children from all walks of life. To appeal to all students, school district administrators need to hire teachers from all walks of life. Diversity recruitment has proven to be an impactful component to a school district’s student success rate. This is why it is becoming increasingly important for a school’s faculty makeup to reflect the makeup of their student body. Are efforts being made to recruit multi-cultural teachers?

Are They Building a Diverse Workforce?

A school district’s recruitment program should strive to prepare and support a diverse workforce that is culturally competent and more reflective of the diversity among the students. Every school district can start by incorporating three small goals.

1. Diversity Readiness/Campus Climate

A school district must establish a program that more fully develops the core values of community as well as to create an infrastructure that values cultural differences. Assure that policies, procedures, and programs support and encourage an inclusive and respectful environment for faculty, staff and students.

2. Recruitment and Retention

Administrators must focus on renewed efforts to expand campus diversity by recruiting and retaining multi-cultural members of the community. They should support neighboring college/university programs designed to enhance academic and career preparation of teachers to teach in all types of school environments.

3. Internal and External Collaborations

School districts should develop partnerships and collaborative opportunities with businesses and organizations throughout the school district community.

See a listing of school districts who are actively recruiting multicultural teachers. Click http://www.teachersofcolor.com/category/school-diversity-profiles/.