Brothers Teaching Initiative
Expanding Access to Teaching
The University of Illinois Chicago’s Brothers Teaching initiative is reshaping the educator pipeline by preparing, supporting, and graduating Black and Latine male teachers who are poised to transform schools and communities across Illinois.
Grounded in mentoring, academic development, and community building, the initiative addresses a critical need: increasing the number of men of color in K–12 classrooms, where representation remains disproportionately low.
Through a comprehensive model that integrates recruitment, retention, professional development, and research, Brothers Teaching supports students from entry into college through degree completion and into the teaching profession. Its impact extends beyond UIC, influencing schools across the Chicago region and positioning the program as a scalable national model. The initiative aligns with UIC’s overall goals of access and excellence.
The Brothers for me has been a life-changing experience. It gave me the tools to be confident in myself and reassured me that education is the right path for me.
Brothers Teaching empowered
me to believe in myself
so that I can be someone that my students, family, children, and community can look up to and see that they can also be the best version of themselves.”
EDVIN RIOS CORADO
Impact
19 current students, with additional graduates anticipated annually
Four-year average time to degree completion
16 graduates, many remaining actively engaged in the program 20% higher retention and graduation rates compared with peer populations at UIC
Growing interdisciplinary reach including math, music, history, and physics educators
Research and Evaluation
A defining feature of Brothers Teaching is its commitment to research-informed practice. Expanded support from the Illinois Department of Human Services has enabled the initiative to:
Present findings at national conferences, including the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
Conduct student interviews and longitudinal analysis of academic outcomes
Develop and disseminate guiding documents and replicable frameworks
Contribute to broader conversations on equity, access, and teacher diversity
I want to thank Brothers Teaching for the support they have given me throughout my time at UIC. As a commuter transfer student, Brothers Teaching gave me the opportunity to collaborate, grow, and learn alongside like-minded individuals. They also provided support that helped me pursue my academic dreams and continue my journey toward becoming an educator.”
MICHAEL VALADEZ
Brothers Teaching Conference
On May 30–31, 2025, the University of Illinois Chicago hosted the inaugural Brothers Teaching Conference, a statewide gathering focused on increasing the number of Black and Brown male educators in Illinois. The two-day event, organized by the Brothers Teaching Initiative, brought together students, educators, university partners, and community organizations to explore how identity, campus experiences, and social context impact the success of men of color in teacher education. The sessions centered on proven recruitment strategies, academic and social supports, and higher education practices that lead to higher enrollment and completion rates among Black and Brown male teacher candidates.
The conference kicked off with a welcome led by Dr. Obari Cartman and opening remarks from Dr. Decoteau Irby, who offered powerful insight into the origin and mission of Brothers Teaching. The evening’s highlight was a moving panel discussion with three Brothers Teaching graduates: Reon Gillespie, Juan Hernandez, and Joseph Rey, who are now elementary teachers across Illinois.
Saturday’s full-day conference featured eight dynamic sessions led by educators, school leaders and students from institutions across Illinois. Attendees also heard a compelling leadership story from a local principal and were inspired by a closing spoken-word performance from Chicago poet and educator, Logan Lu.
Brothers Teaching gave me a network of peers and people who believed in me and encouraged me from day one. The support, resources, and encouragement both inside and outside of the classroom was a major factor in helping me walk the stage.”
GAIUS ANIGHORO
A Model for Student Success
At the core of Brothers Teaching is a cohort-based model that fosters belonging, accountability, and academic excellence. Students participate in a structured ecosystem of supports that includes:
Peer mentorship and alumni engagement, reinforcing community and professional growth
Weekly credit-bearing coursework focused on identity, leadership, and teaching practice
Holistic advising and wellness support, including attention to mental health and emotional resilience
Professional development and networking, connecting students to pathways in K–12 education
COMMUNITY
COURSE CONTENT
Course content emphasizes empowerment, identity development, instructional rigor, and reflection on purpose—helping students articulate not only how to teach, but why they teach. Alumni feedback continues to refine curricular priorities, ensuring graduates are prepared for classroom realities such as classroom management, school culture, and emotional labor.
Brothers Teaching is more than an academic program; it is a community. Regular convenings, shared meals, and student-led activities cultivate a strong sense of brotherhood and mutual accountability. This environment has proven essential to fostering persistence and success, particularly for students navigating historically underrepresented pathways in higher education.
LEADERSHIP
The initiative also emphasizes student voice and leadership, empowering participants to engage deeply with issues of equity, representation, and community impact. Alumni play an increasingly visible role, returning as mentors, guest speakers, and advisors who strengthen the program’s intergenerational network.
As an aspiring teacher, the average classroom demographic has never reflected my own identity, including my background, ethnicity, and, most notably, my gender. Brothers Teaching has not only allowed me to feel that my dreams are possible but also welcomed those dreams into a profession that often leaves people like me feeling outcast.”
EMONTE CONWAY
Looking Ahead: A Vision for Growth
As Brothers Teaching approaches its 10-year anniversary in 2028, the initiative is entering a critical phase of expansion and innovation. Over the next three years, the program will:
• Recruit and support a dynamic 15-student cohort model
• Deepen alumni engagement, integrating graduates into formal mentoring and leadership roles
• Expand interdisciplinary recruitment across UIC colleges and high schools
• Strengthen research and dissemination, sharing a replicable model nationally Advance a statewide Brothers Teaching Network, fostering collaboration across institutions
With sustained investment, Brothers Teaching is positioned to become a national model for diversifying the educator workforce—demonstrating how targeted support, rigorous preparation, and community-centered design can transform both individual lives and educational systems.
