Episode 2: Recruiting and Retaining Music Educators of Color with Angelica Brooks

About the episode:

The issue of social justice through the recruitment and retention of minoritized music educators is a pressing issue that demands attention. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) 2017-2018 study, 79.3% of public school educators are White compared to 6.7% African American and 9.3% Hispanic.  

The field of music education, from NAfME down, says they are committed to equity in our field.  Equity starts with who students see before them, representatives of various races, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences who can also help create a field that meets the needs of all students. It’s bigger than numbers, it has to do with how we see the future of music and its education.

Listen to the audio-only version:

Highlights from the episode:

  • Creating a pipeline for our future workforce of music teachers of color
  • Implementing supports before and after music teachers of color enter the workforce
  • The benefits both inside and outside of the classroom of recruiting and retaining music educators of color 
  • What’s possible when more students have music teachers who represent the diversity of our global society.

About Angelica Brooks:

Mrs. Brooks serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County in the Music Education department.  She is an award-winning choral director and music educator. She received her Bachelor of Music from Bowie State University, her Master of Music from The Catholic University of America and received her Administrator I Certification from McDaniel College.

During her tenure as a public school educator, she was named a Maryland Music Educators Association’s Outstanding Music Educator in 2021 and Prince George’s County Public Schools Teacher of the Year in 2019.  She has taught Vocal and General Music for grades PreK-12 for 13 years and served as a mentor teacher, curriculum writer, and professional development presenter for MMEA, MAC-OASA, and MSDE Fine Arts Office. Mrs. Brooks is now a 3rd year DMA student In the Music Teaching and Learning Department at the University of Southern California. Her research area of focus is on the recruitment and retention of minority music educators as an act of social justice in music education.

Learn more about Angelica at www.AngelicaBrooks.com.

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Show Transcript

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