KPS superintendent refutes allegation that black educators are not promoted to senior management | WKZO | All Kalamazoo

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KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) Allegations that Kalamazoo public school officials are not doing enough to promote black educators to senior leadership elicited a sharp response from Superintendent Dr. Rita Raichoudhuri at the meeting from the district school board this week.

NAACP branch president Wendy Fields complained to the board last night that there has been an exodus of black employees since Dr Raichoudhuri was hired.

But the superintendent says that is simply not true. Se told administrators that the new director of elementary education, the head of security, and the directors she appointed to the English language program, career pathways, and food services are all black. Additionally, four of the five new primary vice principals are black.

Raichoudhuri said she just wanted to set the record straight.

A survey by the National Center for Education Statistics found that just 2% of the nations teachers were black men in 2017, and they say it has dropped further due to the pandemic to 1.7%, which restricts the pool of candidates to be promoted.

The district has launched several programs to inspire and encourage students to enter the profession, with an emphasis on applicants of color, but school officials say it may be years before they are ready for class.

(reporting by John McNeill)

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