Educator Diversity - University of Houston
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CONNECTING RESEARCH, POLICY & PRACTICE

Growing and supporting a diverse teaching workforce is critical to advancing student success. Several projects led by Conra Gist, an associate professor at the University of Houston College of Education, are designed to address and inform these timely issues around educator diversity. 

Children in the classroom

DIVERSIFYING THE TEACHER PIPELINE

The Community Teacher Equity Development (CTED) program partners with school districts and organizations to help paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, other school staff, parents and community members become certified teachers. 

This program works to prepare educators who: 

  • effectively teach K-12 students across various cultural backgrounds; 
  • engage constructively with parents and guardians; and 
  • contribute long-term to local school communities and the teaching profession. 

The program has had partnerships with Aldine ISD, Alief ISD, Houston ISD, Spring ISD and the Houston Federation of Teachers.

Questions? Contact cted@cougarnet.uh.edu

Classroom

RESEARCH HUB ON EDUCATOR DIVERSITY

Associate Professor Conra Gist received a UH Division of Research National Centers planning grant in 2020 to support the formation of a National Center for Research on Educator Diversity. NCRED would serve as a research hub committed to dismantling inequity in teacher development systems through supporting the academic and professional advancement of ethnoracially, culturally and linguistically diverse educators. Learn more about the center.

DIVERSITY GAP IN U.S. PUBLIC SCHOOLS

  • 80%White teachers
  • 49%White students
  • 7% Black teachers
  • 16%Black students
  • 9%Hispanic teachers
  • 26% Hispanic students
  • 2%Asian teachers
  • 5%Asian students
Allison Master

Contact Us

Please reach out with any questions! 

Associate Professor Conra Gist 
Department of Curriculum and Instruction 
UH College of Education 
cdgist@uh.edu