The Residency Lab
Power Up - Teachers of Color Matter - Retention: Considerations for the Field - February 12, 2024
The Power Up 2 session on February 12, 2024 features Dr. Heather Michel of Teachers of Color Matter as the second Spotlight Speaker. Dr. Michel, an education consultant and residency coordinator, presents equity-focused approaches to supporting and retaining teachers of color in teacher residency programs. She examines how systemic barriers, compassion fatigue, and mental health challenges uniquely impact teachers of color, emphasizing the need for differentiated, human-centered supports grounded in equity and justice. The presentation offers practical strategies such as affinity groups, centering teacher voices, and applying Critical Race Theory to foster belonging, well-being, and long-term sustainability in the teaching profession.