Positive role models among teachers can have a positive impact on a student’s educational success, and the relationship is especially true for Black students who study with Black teachers, according to research.

Black students who have at least one Black teacher in elementary school are more likely to graduate high school and enroll in college than peers who have not had a Black teacher, according to research by a group from Johns Hopkins University, American University, the Urban Institute and others published as “The Long-Run Impacts of Same-Race Teachers” by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Persistently low-income Black students with a Black teacher between third and fifth grades showed a 39% less chance of dropping out of high school and a 29% increased interest in pursuing college, according to a report on the study by Johns Hopkins.

The Camden Education Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating progress in Camden’s public school system, this week cited the impact of racial role models as it announced a $10,000 investment for Black male educators in Camden to attend a sold-out, three-day conference, 2023 Black Men in Education Convening, that will be held in Philadelphia this week sponsored by the Center for Black Educator Development.

A kickoff meet-up for the participants is scheduled in Camden on Wednesday, sponsored by the fund.

“Black educators, particularly Black male educators, are critical disruptors in the historically inequitable educational system and powerful role models and advocates for Black students and for all students,” said Giana Campbell, executive director of Camden Education Fund.

“The quality of a student’s teacher is the single most influential in-school factor in academic achievement and future life outcomes,” she said. “It is important to have a teaching workforce that reflects the student population in our city.”

“We are proud to see there are a number of schools that have a large number of Black male staff in the building,” Jonathan Garr, director of school investments at the Camden Education Fund, said in an interview. Garr said the mission to fill the “teacher pipeline” begins between kindergarten and grade 12 and a key component is sending young Black men to college.

While Black teachers accounted for about 7% of the nation’s public school teachers in 2017-18, about 2% of the Black teachers were male, according to a 2022 report from the National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education.

Having exposure to Black male staff has many benefits for Black students. Students are responsive to the expectations that educators hold for them. Research shows that Black teachers tend to hold higher expectations for their Black students. And Black educators are more likely to use references or examples that tap into the lived experience of their Black students. These skills and mindsets are critical to allowing students to see a mirror reflecting their own experiences and perspectives, and a window into their future.

Garr explained that sponsoring the teachers’ registration at the event this week frees them up to network and learn without time or monetary constraints.

He said that for most teachers “time is very, very valuable,” but the fund will be listening to educators at the events with the hopes events such as these will continue to promote and support Camden’s black male school staff.

He hopes events such as these will continue to promote and support Camden’s black male school staff.