Education Secretary Touts Teacher Diversity During Atlanta Visit

During a visit Monday to Spelman College, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said the country needs to increase the diversity of its teacher workforce to match the diversity of schoolchildren.

A more diverse group of teachers–including more teachers of color and male teachers–better serves all students, he said.

“This is doing the right thing for our nation,” Duncan said.

Making teaching more prestigious, providing more training for teachers, and paying good teachers more would help schools do a better job of attracting and retaining educators of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups, he said.

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Duncan and first lady Michelle Obama came to Atlanta on Monday to launch the administration’s fifth annual back-to-school bus tour.

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