AUSTIN, Texas — Teachers are some of the most influential people in our lives. And having a teacher that looks like you and understands you is important.
That's why staff and students at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin are pushing for a partnership with Austin ISD to get more Black male teachers into the classroom.
"Didn't really have a plan for college or anything for that matter," Devin Pineda said.
Now Pineda is a junior at the university, getting his education degree for free – partially thanks to the African-American Male Teacher initiative at the university, in partnership with Apple.
He's helping staff push for a career partnership with AISD to get more Black men into teaching roles.
"When it comes to the goal of this initiative, it's to provide an atmosphere where students can feel understood culturally," Pineda said.
Black men only make up 1.3% of teachers in the U.S., according to 2021 data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Despite that stat, Pineda said he had one Black teacher who changed his life.
"The only one that I've had through my school experience was able to introduce me to this opportunity and make that impact on my life," Pineda said. "The biggest impact from any teacher that I've ever had."
Professor Jesse Rivers is spearheading the university's effort to partner with AISD. Rivers spent more than a year researching the issue and said adding more Black teachers could help build a bridge of unity.
"Black male teachers are more apt to be culturally responsive, culturally sensitive to the needs of those young black men," Rivers said. "So that reduces a lot of the angst and prejudices that we have."
The president of Austin ISD's teacher's union, Ken Zarifis, said this partnership could benefit local students.
"That's ultimately what we want," Zarifis said. "So we have a rich experience in schools, so that every kid going to school has a rich, fulfilling experience where they see themselves, but also others so that they become a fuller person."
Rivers said this year, only one senior is graduating from the teacher initiative due to the effects of the pandemic. The program was rolled out in 2020 which slowed down enrollment.
Rivers said next year, nine of the men in their teacher initiative, including Pineda, will graduate. They believe it's the perfect opportunity for AISD to add diversity and are hopeful the two will come to an agreement.
"We are the future," Pineda said.
KVUE reached out to AISD for a comment on the possible partnership but did not hear back.