Support Your Diverse Staff Members with Affinity Groups1
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School leaders intuitively know our teachers don’t reflect the diversity of their students. Here’s a demographic breakdown based on population percentages of the Arizona teaching force and general population of students.
Latinx: Arizona Teachers – 15%; Arizona Students - 46%
Native American: Arizona Teachers -2%; Arizona Students – 4%
Black/African-American: Arizona Techers – 4%; Arizona Students – 5%
White/European Descent: Arizona Teachers – 75%; Arizona Students – 38%.
(Altavena, 2020).
It is well-documented that a diverse teaching force is vital to the success of all students. One such study can be found at “The Long-Run Impacts of Same-Race Teachers” by the National Bureau of Economic Research (2018).
However, this post is not about recruiting for diversity. Instead, let’s look at one strategy for supporting the educators of color already in our schools: implementing affinity groups.
“Affinity group” is defined as “a group formed around a shared interest or common goal…[It is] a designated ‘safe space,’ where everyone in that group shares a particular identity” (Beningi & Bonk, 2020). Thoughtful implementation of affinity groups for staff members of color has myriad benefits:
Creates a space for demographically underrepresented staff members to feel more connected and to share and work through their experiences.
Provides support and professional development.
Serves as a way to enhance recruitment efforts to increase staff diversity.
Shifts focus from solely on diversity and inclusion to meaningful employee engagement.
Most importantly, it is a “small way to let your diverse staff members know they are valued and supported” (Beningi & Bonk, 2020).
Intrigued about how to successfully launch such an initiative? We invite you to read Beningi & Bonk’s full article “Valuing Your Diverse Staff: Implement an Affinity Group in Your School District Now” (2020) for one school district’s success in doing so.
Altavena, L. (2020, February 26). Arizona teachers don't reflect the diversity of their students, data shows. AZCentral. Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2020/02/26/arizona-teachers-dont-reflect-diversity-students-data-shows/4806855002/
Benigni, M., Dr., & Bronk, L. (2020, November). Valuing your diverse staff: Implement an affinity group in your school district now. American Association of School Personnel Administrators. Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://assets.noviams.com/novi-file-uploads/aaspa/Perspectives/nov_persp_2020_spreads.pdf