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Journal of Science Policy & Governance | Volume 18, Issue 04 | September 27, 2021

Policy Memo: Boosting Minority Teacher Recruitment and Retention for a Diverse Future STEM Workforce

Patricia N. Razafindrambinina (1), Aditi Dubey (2), Paul B. Ellis (3), Rachel Lamb (4), Shantam Ravan (5)
  1. University of Maryland, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College Park, MD 20740
  2. University of Maryland, Department of Entomology, College Park, MD 20740
  3. University of Maryland, School of Public Policy, College Park, MD 20740
  4. University of Maryland, Department of Geographical Sciences, College Park, MD 20740
  5. University of Maryland, Department of Physics, College Park, MD 2074

Corresponding author: [email protected]
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https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG180414
Keywords: education; STEM; minorities; teacher; recruitment; retention; diversity
Executive Summary: The United States STEM workforce has yet to reflect the demographics of the larger population. This discrepancy begins at the base of the STEM pipeline with a significant lack of minority STEM K-12 teachers to serve as mentors and role models to minority students. Research has shown that minority students’ exposure to same-race teachers increased academic output and education attainment up to 32%. Unfortunately, minority teachers face a revolving-door effect: the cycle of increased recruitment countered by a high turnover amongst minority teachers compared to their white counterparts. Minority teachers who leave the profession consistently cite negative teaching environments, discrimination, and lack of support as the main drivers of their decision to quit teaching. The Maryland state legislature recently passed the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Act, which attempts to address teacher recruitment and retention more comprehensively. Here, we go beyond the Blueprint’s baseline tools to recommend targeted strategies to recruit and retain minority STEM K-12 teachers in Maryland. Through the creation of a robust peer mentorship pipeline between new and experienced teachers, prioritization of school staff diversity and inclusion training, and the promotion of teacher autonomy, we will increase minority student education attainment and encourage the growth of a diverse STEM workforce in Maryland.​

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Patricia Razafindrambinina is a Chemistry Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maryland, College Park and a science policy advocate with American Geophysical Union’s Voices for Science program. Her research focuses on quantifying the effect of particulate matter on climate and the Earth’s radiative budget. Her interests include climate change and impacts, environmental justice, sustainability, diversity-equity-inclusion, and mental health in STEM. Twitter @PatRazafin
 
Aditi Dubey is a recent Ph.D. graduate in Entomology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an Entomological Society of America Science Policy Fellow. Her recent research focused on the environmental impacts of pesticide use in grain production. Her interests include  Integrated Pest Management, sustainable agriculture, environmental justice, and promoting diversity and inclusion within STEM. Twitter @Addie_Dubey
 
Paul B. Ellis is a Master of Public Policy student at the University of Maryland, College Park specializing in Environmental Policy. He is a Green Fellowship recipient at UMD and a summer Graduate Fellow in the office of Montgomery County Council President Tom Hucker focusing on climate and energy policy. His interests include broadening access to academia, government positions, and campaigns by increasing the availability of opportunities like paid internships and improving recruitment and training strategies, political campaigns, identifying plants, and trivia. Twitter @Paul_B_Ellis

Rachel L Lamb is a Maryland Sea Grant State Science Policy Fellow and recent Ph.D. graduate in Geographical Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD). She also earned a Master of Public Policy and Master of Science in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology from UMD. Rachel’s recent research focuses on advancing strategic reforestation in support of climate mitigation and other social and environmental goals. She is interested in identifying climate solutions that simultaneously advance environmental and climate justice. Twitter @Rachel_L_Lamb 
 
Shantam Ravan is a Physics Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland, College Park and is the President of the Graduate Student Policy organization on campus. He is interested in the impacts of policy on climate change mitigation, diversity and inclusion in STEM and bridging the digital divide. Twitter @quantumshantam
 
Acknowledgements
Patricia Razafindrambinina is supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. 
DISCLAIMER: The findings and conclusions published herein are solely attributed to the author and not necessarily endorsed or adopted by the Journal of Science Policy and Governance. Articles are distributed in compliance with copyright and trademark agreements.

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