Diversity in education is vital to the success of upcoming generations and the progression of the human race.

In all sectors, educators are needed to foster an inclusive environment for students both young and old that also manifests a deep love for learning, lasting throughout their lifetime.

In public school education, the educator workforce is staggeringly homogenous, as 82 percent of teachers in that sector are white. Black men make up only 2% of the teaching force.

It’s essential for educators to have backgrounds often left out of the history books to truly unravel the multiple complexities present in all sectors of our world today and to break apart many of the systemic barriers seen in communities of color.

To support the needs of prospective Black male educators who want to fight for a more equitable tomorrow for their students and the world, the Mark A. Jefferson Teaching Scholarship exists and will support two extremely ambitious African-American males in their pursuit to become educators for the future.

• Ethnicity: Black
• Gender: Male
• GPA: 2.8 or higher
• Education Level: High School, Undergraduate