‘Dream to Teach’ Opens New Doors for Minority Students

A large group of administrators and educators gathered in the Central Campus board room Thursday night to share their dream for more minority teachers in Des Moines Public Schools.

While DMPS has high-caliber teachers who help every student succeed in the classroom, research has shown that students may have even higher academic achievement when taught by teachers of the same race and ethnicity.  DMPS educates more than 32,000 students. Minority students make up 55% of the district’s enrollment, yet only 6% of DMPS teachers are minorities.

“The shortage of minority teachers is a national issue, it’s not a Des Moines issue alone,” DMPS School Board member Connie Boesen said. “But with help from the community, we will solve it.”

“Dream to Teach,” a new program, will work with minority students in middle and high school who have an interest in becoming teachers, providing support to help them go on to college and careers in education. The program will provide mentors to students and assistance at the higher education level and during their first years of teaching in the field.

“I believe that the Dream to Teach reception last night was phenomenal,” said Sarai Tillinghast, a SCAVO teacher who has been heavily involved with the project.  “We had the opportunity to meet some amazing community leaders as well as potential sponsors.  There were representatives from Grandview, Iowa State, and Drake Universities present who will assist us in further developing the program.  Everyone who was present at last night’s event is committed to the program’s success, and that is particularly exciting!  I have worked with some amazing people in getting to this point, and I look forward to the relationships that will grow from last night’s reception.  I am confident that as we move forward, Dream to Teach will gain any further support that is needed to ensure the best possible outcomes for DMPS students.”

Dream to Teach is working to recruit community partners to help fund and further support the program.  Interested sponsors can contact Sarai.Tillinghast@dmschools.org or Connie.Boesen@dmschools.org.

View photos of the Dream to Teach launch event

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