Despite growing research demonstrating the vital importance of building a more racially and ethnically diverse teacher workforce, teachers of color continue to be severely underrepresented in school systems across the country. Teacher diversity enriches the school environment as a whole; all students can benefit from having diverse role models, and adults also benefit, exhibiting less prejudice when they work and interact with adults of other racial and ethnic backgrounds.

On August 5, 2026, EdTrust and the Learning Policy Institute (LPI) held a webinar on why teacher diversity matters now more than ever and what policymakers, advocates, and education leaders must do to protect and strengthen it.

Featured guests:

• Eric Duncan, director of P-12 policy, EdTrust
• Desiree Carver-Thomas, senior researcher and policy analyst, LPI
• Kurt Russell, educator, Oberline City Schools
• Dr. Precious Symonette, educator, Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Photo by Allison Shelley for EDUimages