The Rising Institute
Building A Movement To Increase The Representation Of Male Educators Of Color Across the Public PK-12 Continuum
THE CONTEXT
Men of color represent just 5% of the teaching workforce nationally. More work is needed to advance access and exposure for young men of color in teaching and public education. The Rising Institute joins this effort like so many other worthy initiatives across the country. The program employs an intentional design with young men of color at the center of its efforts. The young men help construct and lead a model that directly benefits them and impacts the youngest and often most vulnerable children.
The Rising Institute is a Grow Your Own (GYO) developmental teacher residency program that recruits young men of color (ages 18-24) interested in exploring teaching as a viable career option. The program places a particular emphasis on early childhood education (Prek-4 & Kindergarten), where the men will serve as Fellows in a single classroom for an academic school year. The Fellows work alongside a veteran lead/certified teacher, focusing on best practices in early childhood education with a focus on literacy, coupled with an antiracist and culturally responsive pedagogical approach to support student's social, emotional, and academic growth.
WHAT WE DO
THE mission
Through an immersive and carefully curated program model, The Rising Institute aims to increase the number of men of color embarking on careers across the public PK-12 continuum; thus ensuring that all students, particularly students of color, are exposed to the brilliant practices and pedagogies of male educators of color.
THE VISION
Our vision is that The Rising Institute will serve as an incubator for young men of color to explore teaching as both a form of activism and a viable career option while also allowing them to make meaningful contributions toward the academic and social trajectories of all students.
AREAS OF FOCUS
Workforce development
The integration of education, training, tangible real-world workplace experience, wraparound supports, and employer engagement set young men of color on a path to a successful career in education, thus contributing to the male teacher pipeline.
Diversity & Representation in ECE
Men and men of color teaching in early childhood education (ECE) are rare. Thus, their increased presence allows students from a young age, especially young boys of color, to imagine themselves as future educators of color.
Mitigating Inequities in ECE
Fellows employ an evidence-based literacy framework coupled with a culturally responsive pedagogical approach to leverage students' diverse knowledge, languages, and literacies to build relationships that facilitate the learning process.
Teaching as a Viable Career Option
The program intentionally immerses young men of color in various education-oriented activities that will hopefully result in them deciding to pursue education, specifically early childhood education, as a long-term viable career option.
Are You A Good Fit For The Program?
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Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the program’s critical elements (eligibility requirements, residency benefits, program design, etc.) here to determine whether you’d be a good fit.
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As a Fellow, you’ll spend a school year building intentional, meaningful, and nurturing relationships with students. Your primary goal is to help students build upon their existing knowledge and skills to increase confidence, social and emotional wellbeing, and academic success.
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Fellows receive hours of professional development throughout the program that’ll adequately prepare them to work with PreK-4 and kindergarten students. Training will consist of an evidenced-based literacy framework coupled with an antiracist and culturally responsive pedagogical approach to support student’s social, emotional, and academic growth. Moreover, Fellows will also receive coaching from the program’s early childhood specialist and work alongside a licensed teacher.
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All Fellows work part-time, 20-25 hours per week, Tuesday – Friday at a rate of $15.00 an hour. Before applying, applicants should take time to familiarize themselves with the program’s critical elements (eligibility requirements, residency benefits, program design, etc.) here to learn more about program benefits and to determine whether you’d be a good fit.
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Your official start date begins in the fall (September) at the beginning of the academic school year. However, all Fellows will be required to attend a mandatory preservice orientation before their residency begins. The mandatory preservice orientation takes place in August.
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Our online application takes about 10-20 minutes to complete. The process includes entering general demographic and contact information, providing relevant work experience (if applicable), responding to two essay prompts, and providing the contact information for two professional references. Once your application is received, it will be reviewed by our recruitment team. A team member will reach out to you within 3-5 business days to schedule an initial screening if you are a match.
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If accepted into the program, all initial offers will be contingent upon passing a state and federal criminal background check and providing evidence demonstrating the attainment of a high school diploma or GED. Additionally, before being placed at a school, all Fellows will be required to provide proof of a negative TB test, in addition to proof that you’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
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The residency is a fun, fulfilling, and rewarding opportunity for young men of color to sharpen their pedagogical practices as emerging educators of color while also making an enduring impact on student’s social and academic trajectories, most of whom are of color. Thus, Fellows must be willing to commit themselves to a 10-month program that requires lots of training, an early work schedule (8:00 am – 1:00 pm), travel (in and out of state), and the ability to work four days a week.
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During work hours, Fellows are required to wear the program’s required uniform. The dress code is business casual and consists of two polos, a t-shirt, and a sweater, all provided by the organization. However, Fellows are responsible for their uniform’s bottom portion (i.e., pants).