Up To Date

How College Students Are Diversifying The Teacher Workforce In Kansas City

By Steve Kraske,

Published April 14, 2021 at 5:23 PM CDT

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Khalil Jones had been teaching English Language Arts to his East High School students from his bedroom in Kansas City. He has since returned to in-class teaching.

The student population in this country is growing more diverse and there are advantages to students seeing themselves in their teachers.

Two fellows from the Walton Family Foundation's teacher diversity initiative describe their first experiences teaching that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maria Martinez, Emporia State student, teaching kindergarten at Mark Twain Elementary in Kansas City, Kansas.
Khalil Jones, UMKC student, teaching at East High School, Kansas City, Missouri.

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Up To Date teachers education diversity Podcast Kansas City Missouri (KCMO)Kansas City Kansas (KCK)

Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

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Danie Alexander

As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.

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