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Personnel perspectives: Supporting professional learning for Teachers of Color with a critical affinity group

Kimberly Ann Gonzalez 1 2 *
1 Middlesex Community College, USA2 University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA* Corresponding Author
Educational Point, 2(2), 2025, e123, https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/16595
Publication date: Jul 11, 2025
Research Article
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ABSTRACT

Despite growing student diversity in U.S. K–12 classrooms, Teachers of Color (TOC) remain severely underrepresented. One way to support TOC is through professional learning within critical affinity groups. Critical affinity groups are spaces where TOC engage in critical pedagogy that addresses systems of oppression in educational spaces through recognition of racial and cultural strengths. This study examines how Women of Color personnel in the Urban Public School district designed a critical affinity program to support the retention and development of the district’s experienced TOC. Using semi-structured interviews, participants’ illuminated how their own lived experiences as former TOC shaped their understanding of the necessity of critical affinity spaces and how these groups support TOC. The Women of Color personnel identified monthly meetings, mentorship, support, and networking, as well as participation in policy-change workshops as the best ways support TOC. The information gained from this study supports using racial affinity groups as professional learning for TOC to offer culturally responsive mentorship and leadership opportunities that provide professional and personal transformation.

KEYWORDS

Teachers of Color professional learning critical affinity groups professional development

CITATION (APA)

Gonzalez, K. A. (2025). Personnel perspectives: Supporting professional learning for Teachers of Color with a critical affinity group. Educational Point, 2(2), e123. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/16595
Harvard
Gonzalez, K. A. (2025). Personnel perspectives: Supporting professional learning for Teachers of Color with a critical affinity group. Educational Point, 2(2), e123. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/16595
Vancouver
Gonzalez KA. Personnel perspectives: Supporting professional learning for Teachers of Color with a critical affinity group. Educational Point. 2025;2(2):e123. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/16595
AMA
Gonzalez KA. Personnel perspectives: Supporting professional learning for Teachers of Color with a critical affinity group. Educational Point. 2025;2(2), e123. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/16595
Chicago
Gonzalez, Kimberly Ann. "Personnel perspectives: Supporting professional learning for Teachers of Color with a critical affinity group". Educational Point 2025 2 no. 2 (2025): e123. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/16595
MLA
Gonzalez, Kimberly Ann "Personnel perspectives: Supporting professional learning for Teachers of Color with a critical affinity group". Educational Point, vol. 2, no. 2, 2025, e123. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/16595

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