Monday update: Scranton School District, city form diversity committee

Sarah Hofius Hall, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
·2 min read

Jan. 23—The Scranton School District and city of Scranton have joined forces to recruit employees with more diverse backgrounds.

After years of speakers at board meetings urging the district to hire a more diverse staff, the district formed a diversity committee late last year. The committee includes school directors, teachers and administrators. City leaders, including council members and department heads, have also joined the efforts.

"I'm very pleased that both organizations, the district and the city, are working together and having these conversations, and that we're collaborating and having thought-provoking discussions and challenging each other," said Director Sarah Cruz, the school board's first Hispanic member.

In October, Robert McLeod, who teaches math at Northeast Intermediate, again urged the district to increase the diversity of its teaching staff. One of only a few teachers who are nonwhite, McLeod has often spoken about the benefits of having a staff that better reflects the student body. More than 60% of the student population is a race other than white.

Director Ty Holmes, the first Black member of the school board, said at the time he wanted the administration to put a team together to begin actively recruiting a more diverse staff.

The lack of diverse teaching applicants is a problem across the state, and is often blamed on a "pipeline" problem, with students of color not seeing education as an attainable career. Research suggests that educator diversity can play an important part in closing achievement gaps, improving school climate and promoting higher expectations for minority students.

During the meetings, the committee members have discussed not only how to recruit more diverse individuals, but also how to attract and welcome more diverse people into the city, Cruz said.

"It's bringing a lot of different issues to the forefront," said school director and committee member Danielle Chesek. "With our student population, it's essential right now. It's very important the students have faculty members who look like them. Right now it's not what it should be."

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