From June 18- 24, 2006, Eastern’s Minority Teachers Identification Enrichment Program (MTIEP) hosted a camp for aspiring teachers made up of minority junior high and high school students from various parts of Illinois.

“There is an identified shortage of minority teachers and teachers in specific shortage content areas across our state and country,” said Charles Rohn, dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies.

The Illinois State Board of Education reported minority teachers formed 15 percent of the teaching force compared of the teaching force compared to minority student population of about 41 percent in a study performed in 2002.

“It is important to increase the number of minority teachers because we live in a very diverse society,” said Shawn Peoples, the coordinator of MTIEP and scholars program. “We have a lot of students who want to see that.”

Freddie A. Banks, Jr., retired faculty member of the Department of Education and Educational studies, began MTIEP 12 years ago with the idea of increasing the number of minorities interesting in teaching and teaching in the state of Illinois, said Peoples. The summer camp, which is a part of the program, is a one-week event that allows Illinois junior high, senior high and even community college students to participate in academic classes, activities and workshops. Students also have the opportunity to live in dorms and tour the campus.

“The hosting of this camp and the sponsoring of the MTIEP program indicates that Eastern is very serious about helping to meet the need for a talented, qualified, diverse pool of talented teachers for tomorrow’s schools,” said Rohn.

MTIEP detected the need that students have with being able to connect with other people and their surroundings in order to feel understood. Peoples believe that students will feel more comfortable in the classroom if they interact with an instructor who is familiar or empathetic to their daily experiences.

“I think minority faculty makes a huge impact because their committed to teaching and educating their students,” said Peoples, “Just by being in that position and seeing someone who’s a minority faculty gives the student more confidence to say the he or she can do this.”