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Black Educator Excellence Cohort

Black Educator Excellence Cohort
Taryn Walker teaching fifth-grade students at Clarence L Farrington School 61

TNTP Teaching Fellows prioritizes equitable education to ensure economic and social mobility for our students and communities. One proven way to improve student performance and life outcomes, especially for students of color, is to ensure that the teacher workforce is diverse and holds and delivers on the high expectation that all students can excel. Students of color who have teachers who look like them and share their life experiences are more likely, to graduate, or pursue college degrees or other credentials that prepare them to thrive in life. Yet, the racial disparity between students and the teacher workforce is large and growing; while more than half of K–12 students are students of color, more than 80% of teachers are white.

The Black Educator Excellence Cohort (BEEC) provides additional resources such as scholarships, testing support, and the opportunity to build community and network with fellow cohort members and experienced educators.

We all understand the struggles that Black people face in the education system, so being able to bring what I learn in our pre-service training classes to those people in our cohort has been really inspiring and motivational. When I feel like this is challenging, they always remind me why we’re here and what we want to do.

— Batool Ibrahim, Baltimore City Teaching Residency

BEEC has supported me in so many meaningful and impactful ways. The most impactful thus far has been the ability to breathe in our BEEC space. When I say breathe, I literally mean breathe. The Mental and Emotional Check In during our BEEC time together should be bottled up and sold. During this pandemic those check ins with BEEC are definitely keeping me afloat.

— Dwana Castile, teachNOLA

The BEEC program is important for Black educators because it provides a support system that is both responsive and relevant. It creates a space for Black educators to discuss and deliberate matters that are contextually significant to our community.

— Troy Smith, Indianapolis Teaching Fellows

What is the Black Educator Excellence Cohort (BEEC)?

There’s no shortage of talented people of color who could help close the teacher diversity gap. Barriers such as program tuition, testing fees, and personal expenses while transitioning to teaching disproportionately impact potential teachers of color.

The Black Educator Excellence Cohort (BEEC) tackles the barriers that keep aspiring Black teachers out of the profession. BEEC members have received financial assistance, support with required certification exams, including practice tests, online coursework, 1:1 support, and a space to build community with other Black educators. To counteract the isolation and challenges many Black teachers face on mostly white teaching staff, the program also provides a network of mutual support and targeted development opportunities, such as social events, book studies, and guest speakers.

BEEC Financial Support

Financial support is based on program needs. To be eligible for support you need to be in good standing with your program and partner school.

Baltimore City Teaching Residency Support

Type Award Amount Disbursement Timeline
Transition Stipend Total: $3750 Three equal disbursements of $1250 during the first month of PST, after completion of PST, and during the first month of the school year.
Tuition Scholarship Total $2400 Applied directly to tuition balance: $1200 in October 2023 and October 2024
Exam Fee Stipend $150 After completion of PST. Contingent on submission of a testing diagnostic, proof of approved exemption or previous score report.
Total $6300

teachNOLA Support

Type Award Amount Disbursement Timeline
Transition Stipend Total: $3750 Three equal disbursements of $1250 during the first month of PST, after completion of PST, and during the first month of the school year.
Tuition Scholarship Total $2400 Applied directly to tuition balance: $1200 in October 2023 and March 2024
Exam Fee Stipend $150 After completion of PST. Contingent on submission of a testing diagnostic, proof of approved exemption or previous score report.
Total $6300

Teach Minnesota Support

Type Award Amount Disbursement Timeline
Transition Stipend Total: $4500 Three equal disbursements of $1500 during the first month of PST, after completion of PST, and during the first month of the school year.
Tuition Scholarship Total $3000 Applied directly to tuition balance: $1500 in October 2023 and March 2024
Total $7500

Indianapolis Teaching Fellows Support

Type Award Amount Disbursement Timeline
Transition Stipend Total: $3750 Three equal disbursements of $1250 during the first month of PST, after completion of PST, and during the first month of the school year.
Tuition Scholarship N/A As an Indianapolis Teaching Fellow, you may be eligible to enroll in the TNTP AmeriCorps Program and offset 100% of the tuition costs for Marian University.
Exam Fee Stipend $150 After completion of PST. Contingent on submission of a testing diagnostic, proof of approved exemption or previous score report.
Total $3900

BEEC Eligibility

  • Be enrolled and good standing with one of our four programs
  • Identify as Black/African American

Hear It From Them

BEEC Testimonials

"Teaching is a challenging yet rewarding career that takes determination and consistency. There will be days you want to give up, but you lean on your coaches and other members of the cohort."

Head-and-shoulders photo of Jazmin Sanders

Jazmin Sanders

Indianapolis Teaching Fellows

Elementary, K-2

"I believe that it is important to teach right now because equitable education is under attack."

Headshot of Troy Smith

Troy Smith

Indianapolis Teaching Fellows

Elementary, 5-6

"Teaching is, “you get to,” not "you have to.” You get to prepare the next generation. That’s amazing."

Head-and-shoulders photo of Dwana Caliste

Dwana Caliste

teachNOLA

English, 9-12

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