"Albemarle County is slowly gaining ground in hiring more minority teachers in its increasingly diverse school division.

There are currently 88 minority teachers in the division, according to a report presented to the School Board on Thursday, eight more than the 2004-05 school year.

While the rise in minority teacher hires is not dramatic, School Board member Brian Wheeler believes progress is being made.

“We’re finally gaining traction on hiring and retaining minority teachers,” he said.

Of the 79 minority teachers in the division in 2005-06, six left the division, one retired and one passed away. Seventeen minority teachers were hired for this school year.

“We’re doing a really good job considering how many minorities are graduating from educational institutes at this point,” said Kimberly Suyes, director of human resources for the division. “It’s a tough market to find minority candidates and we think they are incredibly valuable to our students’ success.”

The division may add a teacher recruiter for next school year who would travel to other metropolitan areas in Virginia to seek out prospective teachers. The goal of the position would be to attract a more diverse teaching corps, Wheeler said. The board must approve the position.

Wheeler was encouraged that one of the division’s most diverse schools, Greer Elementary, also has the highest percentage of minority staff members at 17.8.

“The diversity in our schools should reflect the diversity in our community,” he said.

From 2001-02 to 2005-06 school years, the number of Hispanic students in the division increased in 20 of the 24 county schools. Suyes said that the division wants to hire more Hispanic, as well as Asian, employees.

Superintendent Pamela Moran agreed that exposure to teachers and other school staff of varying backgrounds prepares students for life outside the classroom.

“Having a diverse workforce is important for our kids who live in a world that’s diverse,” Moran said.

She explained that the division’s top priority is attracting highly qualified teachers who can educate students of all backgrounds and ability levels." (Matt Deegan, The Daily Progress, December 8, 2006)