Generation Next prioritizes fostering diverse and sustainable teacher pathways to support the needs of all students in the Twin Cities. By connecting stakeholders, amplifying existing efforts, and addressing systemic barriers, we aim to ensure that teachers of color and Indigenous educators are supported, valued, and empowered to thrive in their careers.

 

Understanding the Journey of Educators
Generation Next brought together our Teacher Diversity & Teaching Diverse Learners Project Team to draw on partner insights, research, and lived experience to better understand the teaching profession as a connected journey— from exploration through career support.

Research from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Applied Research and Education Improvement (CAREI) Teaching Pathways Study and the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) provided new insights into the experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous teaching candidates across high school, higher education, and early employment that informed our work
throughout the year.

The Teaching Pathways study, along with district updates, Youth as Champions materials, and statewide mentoring and onboarding information, offered a fuller picture of how experiences influence who ultimately becomes and stays a teacher in the Twin Cities.

 

Bringing Students into the Teaching Conversation
Generation Next continues to expand who is engaged in conversations about the teaching profession, facilitating the participation of Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) and Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) in Youth as Champions (YAC), a program of the Elevate Teaching movement. YAC created an intentional space for over 30 youth to reflect on the teaching profession, especially through the activities grounded in Elevate Teaching’s six key messages. Our preliminary findings from YAC show the importance of including youth voice and leadership to advance the Teacher Diversity priority area. We had an opportunity to present this work to educators from across the state at the University of Minnesota’s Leading in Equity, Action, and Diversity (LEAD) Conference. At our session: “Youth as Champions to Elevate the Teaching Profession,” MPS and SPPS shared how they, along with Generation Next and Elevate Teaching, are engaging students through YAC to uplift the teaching profession.