Educator Diversity Initiative Newsletter

April 2025

2024 Graduates of San Rafael's Teacher Residency Program (Photo Credits: Mary Kate Kenny, Teacher Residency Coordinator at San Rafael City Schools)

The Educator Diversity Initiative is Graduating!

Partners in 2022 envisioning Undergraduate Educator Pathways

In 2020, a group of cross-sector partners came together to tackle a deep-rooted inequity: Marin County’s students of color made up nearly half of public school enrollment, yet only 11% of teachers reflected that diversity. The Educator Diversity Initiative was born out of listening, learning, and a shared commitment to dismantling systemic barriers that have kept educators of color from entering and staying in the profession.


After years of collaboration between  K–12 districts, higher education institutions, and community organizations, this collective work has grown from vision to reality. Partners have built a connected Educator Pathway that stretches from high school exposure to teacher credentialing and hiring, supported by mentorship, financial aid, and collective leadership. Now, as the initiative graduates into a sustainable, community-driven system, it represents a powerful step forward in the ongoing work to close educational equity gaps in Marin and create a future where every student can see themselves reflected in the classroom.
Read the Full Story of the Educator Diversity Initiative

Partners Advancing Educator Diversity Over the Years

The examples below represent just a few of the many aligned actions partners have taken to advance educator diversity. While not a comprehensive list, this snapshot highlights the bold steps partners are taking to recruit, support, and retain educators of color—and to ensure they feel a true sense of belonging, agency, and leadership.
  • Branson School: Continues the Gallard Fellowship to bring HBCU grads into teaching and supports staff through identity-based affinity groups.
  • Novato Unified School District: Launched a bilingual residency program, attends diversity-focused recruiting fairs, and is exploring educator housing options.
  • Sausalito Marin City School District: Participates in CalTeach to provide STEM teaching fieldwork and mentorship opportunities.
  • Marin County Office of Education: Leading the Oak Hill housing project and joined a collaborative Educator Pathway for aspiring teachers.
  • San Rafael City Schools: Built a CTE Educator Academy and Teacher Residency program, leading to 11+ hires of educators of color.
  • Dominican University: Awarded 46 Teachers of Color Scholarships and created a Diversity Action Group to foster belonging on campus.
  • Tamalpais Union High School District: Adopted anti-racist hiring policies, supports credentialing for staff of color, and co-hosts Educator of Color retreats with E3.
  • College of Marin: Created a Faculty Diversity Internship and co-leads the ECEPTS early education apprenticeship with Community Action Marin.
  • Shoreline Unified School District: Expanded tutoring through Bridge the Gap and passed a Sanctuary District resolution to affirm inclusive values.

Click the button for more details on the examples listed above.
Read the Expanded Summary

New Educator Diversity Data for Marin County Coming Soon!

For the first time since 2018–2019, new statewide data will soon be available to help us track changes in educator diversity across Marin.


This updated information will be critical in understanding the progress we have made and the work that still lies ahead. By analyzing the latest numbers, partners will be able to evaluate where collective action has made an impact and where new strategies or deeper commitments may be needed.


Once released, the updated data will be available on our Educator Diversity Data Dashboard on the Marin Promise Partnership website.

Check out the Latest Educator Diversity Data

Resources
 

Photo source: Marin County Office of Education

Affordable Educator Housing


Partners across Marin have been advocating for an educator-workforce housing plan at Oak Hill Apartments, a project that would create 230 new affordable rental homes. This effort is a critical step toward helping teachers live and thrive in the communities they serve.


See how partners are supporting this collaborative effort:
 

High School CTE Pathway


Explore the Educator Academy at San Rafael High School, a CTE dual-enrollment program giving students early exposure to careers in education.

Teacher Residency Programs


Learn more about local teacher residency programs that are helping to recruit, support, and retain diverse educators in Marin.



Action Calendar

 

April

30

Undergraduate Educator Pathway Launch 

(Hosted by Marin County Office of Education)


Partners are officially launching the Undergraduate Educator Pathway this spring. This event is designed for college guidance, admissions, registration, and student support staff to learn how to connect aspiring educators to the new pathway.


While the meeting is not public-facing, it marks an important next step in expanding opportunities for students and strengthening the educator pipeline across Marin.

Message from the Backbone Team


Dear Partners,


Through your leadership and collaboration, the Educator Diversity Initiative has evolved into an institutionalized Educator Pathway, fully carried forward by the partners who helped build and sustain it.


As the initiative enters its next chapter, Marin Promise Partnership’s backbone team will transition from direct incubation to supporting this work through shared data and evaluation, helping partners track progress and stay anchored in equity. This is our final newsletter dedicated specifically to Educator Diversity, but I’ll continue to share any significant updates that emerge from the Educator Pathway data dashboard currently in development. 


Thank you to every partner who contributed to this effort over the years. Your dedication has laid a strong foundation that will benefit students for generations to come.



In partnership,


Brandon Johnson

Director of the Educator Diversity Initiative
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