Launched in January 2008, Teachers as Leaders was created by Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation in partnership with the City University of New York Black Male Initiative and the Schott Foundation for Public Education to increase the number of Black males serving as New York City public school teachers. Teachers as Leaders currently operates on 11 CUNY campuses, with 51 scholars participating in the initiative. Scholars are expected to graduate and become teachers in New York City public schools in fall 2009 and fall 2010.
Critical need for Black male teachers

The first phase of Teachers as Leaders was launched at the City University of New York in conjunction with the university’s Black Male Initiative, which works to increase the enrollment and retention rates of underrepresented students, particularly African-American, Caribbean, and Latino males. The goal of the Teachers as Leaders initiative is to address the critical need for Black male teachers in New York City public schools. Currently, Black males account for 4.4% of the teaching workforce, a percentage that represents a steady decline over the years. Concurrently, the high school graduation rate for Black males hovers around 30% in New York City.

It is crucial that we address the gamut of issues that affect Black males’ ability to serve as academic role models and thrive. The program will provide mentors, summer teaching experiences, monthly workshops, and teacher certification training to prepare promising Black male students to serve this crucial role.
Investment in high-quality teachers

The New York City Department of Education partners with Deutsche Bank to create opportunities for Teachers as Leaders participants to have hands-on training in city classrooms.

Teachers as Leaders has developed crucial partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders that will ensure the sustainability of the initiative and its ability to affect important policy outcomes. “Teachers as Leaders is an investment in the development of high-quality teachers and public policy advocates who are capable of changing the trajectory of life for so many students who are being left behind in our classrooms. We anticipate that the immediate impact will be in the classroom, but the long-term implications could change the world,” said Dr. John H. Jackson, president and CEO of the Schott Foundation.

The Teachers as Leaders advisory board includes representatives from Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, Stanford University, the Columbia School of Social Work, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Call Me Mister, CUNY, and the New York City Department of Education.