East Harlem Tutorial Program Teaching Residency/Teaching Resident interview questions

So the hiring process includes three steps: 1. First you apply then if accepted-> 2. A phone interview is conducted (30-45 minutes) 3. Finally an in person interview (The above 3 steps takes approximately 2-3 months) You have to prepare a 5 minute lesson plan to teach on the day of the in person interview. You also have to read 2 articles before hand, to do a writing response to and group discussion about, on the day of the interview. - Unfortunately the minute I walked in and saw predominantly white staff and very few minority teachers and staff persons ( I could count on one hand) I suspected discriminatory hiring practices. - I (a person of color) and a white female were the only two candidates who showed up for the interview out of a list of at least 10 potential candidates who never showed up. You are surrounded by 5-6 staff persons for the first aspect of the interview, (1 staff person of color the other staff 4-5, white or Asian, predominantly female.) I question the integrity and racial diversity of the staffing of this program. In East Harlem the student population is predominantly Latino, African American, then a small number of Asian and Caucasian students. Yet the staff -teaching-reflects a disproportionate number of white middle class females from prestigious institutions; thus, students aren't exposed to many adults representative of their community in their classrooms, but staff who are out of touch with many of the student's realities. I hope the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission takes a look into this non for profit sector and their hiring practices. It may just be an eye opening experience.