New Millennium Academy Starts Initiative to Hire More Teachers of Color

A new initiative is in place at New Millennium Academy to promote and provide training to more teachers of color. 

The Brooklyn Center school recently opened up the Pathway to Classroom initiative to current paraprofessionals and school staff members. 

The school will identify 6-8 staff members for this opportunity. The 2-year commitment will provide staff a scholarship to fund their education. New Millennium will also provide 100 paid hours of classroom experience. After completing the program and receiving their teaching license, newly-licensed teachers are expected to commit 4 years as a teacher to the school.

“The intention is to get more teachers of color who reflects student population and the community they live in. 90% of our students are Hmong. 99% of our students are students of color,” said Kevin Xiong, the executive director and CEO of NMA. 

But Xiong says currently less than half of the teachers at New Millennium are teachers of color.

New Millennium students in class (March 18, 2021).

The deadline to submit applications for the new program is mid-April.

The legislature is considering a bill to increase teachers of color and Native American teachers. The bill requires waived test fees for low-income test takers. It also asks for funding to attract, promote and retain teachers of color. 

Brooklyn Center