​The Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance is set to release its report, Sharing Our Stories: Perspectives of Teachers of Color in Tennessee during an event to be held from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 15 at Pearl-Cohn High. Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen and Metro Nashville Public School Board Vice Chair Christiane Buggs will make remarks during the event.

​NASHVILLE (November 14, 2018) – The Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance (TECA) will release its inaugural report, Sharing Our Stories: Perspectives of Teachers of Color in Tennessee during an event to be held from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 15 at Pearl-Cohn High School. The report, which aims to highlight the experiences of educators of color in Tennessee and offers policy recommendations on how schools and districts can support them, will be discussed, released statewide, and will be made available during the event on Thursday.

​The event will also feature reflections and comments from Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen and Metro Nashville Public School Board Vice Chair Christiane Buggs. Both will provide talk about how schools and districts can support educators of color and offer their reflections about the report.

​In August and September 2018, TECA conducted focus groups with teachers of color in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. The alliance asked educators about school culture, hiring, and supports for teachers of color. Some questions included:

​·       Does the racial and ethnic diversity of teachers influence a school’s culture?

·       What unique perspectives do teachers of color bring to their work?

·       What challenges do teachers of color experience?

·       How can schools and districts better support teachers of color?

​The report answers these questions, based on the perspectives of the educators, and provides policy recommendations on how schools and districts may better support educators.

​Diarese George, Ed.D, a former high school teacher in Clarksville, Tennessee, founded the Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance. The mission of the organization is to amplify the voice, presence, and support for educators of color while remaining student-centered and solutions-oriented.

​The central belief of TECA is that all students benefit from teachers and administrators of color, especially since many of these educators were once students of color themselves. Because of these shared experiences, educators of color are able to speak to the systemic inequities that students of color face. Many of Tennessee’s policymakers do not look like or represent the majority of students in our schools and TECA believes in elevating teacher leaders of color to be policy advocates for their students.

Learn more about TECA at tneca.org.

The public and media are invited to attend the event. Interviews will be available upon request. An embargoed copy of the report is available upon request.

For more information, contact Ashley Northington via e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 615.268.5944.

​WHO: Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance, Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen and Metro Nashville Public School Board Vice Chair Christiane Buggs

​WHAT: The release of Sharing Our Stories: Perspectives of Teachers of Color in Tennessee

​WHEN: 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 15 at Pearl-Cohn High School

WHY: To release Sharing Our Stories, which aims to highlight the experiences of educators of color in Tennessee and offers policy recommendations on how schools and districts can support them

Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance (TECA) is set to host its second annual conference DiversifiED from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 23 at Trevecca Nazarene University.  

​NASHVILLE (January 22, 2019) — Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance (TECA) is set to host its second annual conference DiversifiED featuring Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition David Johns, Teach Plus Chief Executive Officer Roberto Rodriguez, and 2018 Tennessee Teacher of the Year Ciecly Woodard. The conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 23 at Trevecca Nazarene University.  

​DiversifiED is the annual leadership conference for educators of color. The conference is open to all public school educators, pre-service educators, teacher educators and education advocates with an interest in celebrating the importance of a diverse teacher workforce in Tennessee. This year’s theme is Equity and Beyond. Through two keynote addresses, breakout sessions, and a Teach of the Year Panel discussion, attendees will explore what equitable outcomes and practices look like across the state for educators, communities, and students.  

​“We are excited to host our second annual conference, which will highlight some of the brightest minds in education and social justice,” said Diarese George, Ed.D, who is TECA’s founder and chairman of the board. “We are serious about equipping educators of color with the tools to advocate and lead, and DiversifiED gives us this opportunity annually.” 

​The purpose of the conference is to allow educators to Engage with thought leaders who will transform the way they see themselves as educators, advocates, and leaders.  The morning keynote will be delivered by Rodriguez, who, in addition to being the CEO of Teach Plus is a former Deputy Assistant to the President for Education during the Obama Administration. The afternoon keynote will be delivered by Johns, who is the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, and the former Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans during the Obama Administration. The afternoon will also include a Teacher of the Year panel discussion featuring Woodard, James Ford of North Carolina, Ivonne Orozco of New Mexico; and Josh Parker of Maryland. 

​TECA is doubling down on its efforts to amplify the voices of educators of color. In November, the organization released its inaugural policy report, Sharing Our Stories: Perspectives of Teachers of Color in Tennessee, which highlighted the experiences of educators of color in Tennessee and offers policy recommendations on how schools and districts can support them. Learn more and download the report at bit.ly/TECASharing.  

The media and the public are invited to attend DiversifiED. Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased at bit.ly/DiversifiED. Media may contact Tereva Parham at 615.419.1223 or by e-mail at [email protected] for credentials. 

The mission of Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance is to amplify the voice, presence, and support for educators of color while remaining student-centered and solutions-oriented. The central belief of TECA is that all students benefit from teachers and administrators of color, especially since many of these educators were once students of color themselves. Because of these shared experiences, educators of color are able to speak to the systemic inequities that students of color face. Many of Tennessee’s policymakers do not look like or represent the majority of students in our schools and TECA believes in elevating teacher leaders of color to be policy advocates for their students.