Board reviews Teachers Like Me partnership; members ask for program data and terms

The Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education discussed a proposed memorandum of understanding with the Teachers Like Me program during its May 27 meeting, focusing on the program fee, what it covers and whether the district can measure participant retention.

"The $15,000 covers for the full 3 years. It's a one-time payment that's made, and that allows them to be able to support those individuals with part of the residential stay that they have," said a district presenter, explaining the fee covers housing and additional professional supports provided by the Teachers Like Me nonprofit partner. Board members asked for more granular accounting and retention data before final action.

Board member Doctor (Dr.) Wynne asked whether district staff had reviewed the program pedagogy and whether examples of the instructional approach were available; district staff said they had not yet reviewed the full curriculum but would provide access. Rachel Russell, board member and boundary committee chair, described the program's cohort-based supports and said local evidence and national research support cohort approaches to retention for teachers of color.

Board members also probed whether the $15,000 is spent directly on teachers, whether the district could replicate the housing and wraparound supports in-house, and whether participants have an enforceable commitment to remain in the district. District staff said the $15,000 is paid to the program, which provides housing, professional development and community supports; the district does not directly pay teachers. Staff also said Teachers Like Me recruits nationally and partners with higher-education institutions and that local data from a Missouri partnership exists and would be provided to the board on request.

District staff said the proposed agreement would cover up to three participants ("up to 3") and the payment is structured as a one-time amount to seed the three-year support model. Staff also said the program has historically helped participants establish housing and community connections and that the partnership is intended to improve recruitment and retention in hard-to-fill positions. Board members requested the program's retention data from Kansas City, Missouri and clarification about how the $15,000 is expended and recorded; staff agreed to follow up.

The item was presented for information and questions; no vote or formal approval occurred at the May 27 meeting. The board asked staff to return with program documentation, expenditure detail, and Missouri retention data before any final decision.