>> HEY THERE.

AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

THE ADJUNCT TEACHERS STRIKE IN COLUMBIA COLLEGE ENTERS ITS SECOND MONTH.

A NEW INVESTIGATION EXPLORES WHY SO MANY CASES OF MISSING BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE UNSOLVED IN CHICAGO.

AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?

SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE STRUGGLING TO FILL CERTAIN TEACHER VACANCIES.

>> AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, SOME TEACHERS AND FACULTY AT COLUMBIA COLLEGE ARE LOCKED IN THE LONGEST STRIKE OF ADJUNCTS PROFESSORS IN HISTORY AT 31 DAYS TODAY, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, PRESIDENT RANDI WEINGARTEN JOINS TEACHERS ON THE PICKET LINE IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO TODAY.

THE NEARLY 600 STRIKING UNION MEMBERS WALKED OFF THE JOB OVER WHAT THEY SEE ADMINISTRATION ELIMINATION OF HUNDREDS OF PART-TIME FACULTY, JOBS AND INCREASING MANY CLASS SIZES ARE CALLING ON COLUMBIA TO MAINTAIN COURSES IN CLASS SIZES AND TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO JOB SECURITY.

PASSENGERS TRAVELING THROUGH MIDWAY MAY NOTICE SOME DIFFERENT DINING OPTIONS AT THE AIRPORT REOPENED CENTRAL MARKET.

IT'S THE CULMINATION OF AN 8 YEAR 400 MILLION DOLLAR MODERNIZATION EFFORT.

>> AND MIDWAY'S CONCESSIONS.

REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THIS SPACE IN THE AIRPORT TO CONSTRUCT MORE LOCAL BRANDS FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO ENJOY IT.

THE UPDATED COURT IS HOME TO A MIX OF THE EXISTING RESTAURANTS AND FEW NEW ONES.

>> THE REVAMP CENTRAL MARKET IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF CONCOURSES A AND B AND INCLUDES COUNTIES.

PIZZA FEATURES HANDMADE CHEESE DUNCAN AND IM BURGER AMONG OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE AIRPORT.

MIDWAY'S CONCESSIONS.

REDEVELOPMENT HAS EXPANDED FROM 40,000 MORE THAN 70,000 SQUARE FEET.

THE AIRPORT'S FIRST LOUNGE, THE CLUB IN DW IS SLATED TO OPEN NEXT FALL.

DEVELOPERS ON THE FAR SOUTH SIDE ARE HOPING A NEW TYPE OF HOME WILL LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EQUITY IN THAT COMMUNITY.

CREWS FOR THE HOPE CENTER FOUNDATION ERECTED THE ORGANIZATION'S FIRST MODEL MODULAR HOME IN THE ROSELAND NEIGHBORHOOD.

GROUP IS LEADING THE RECLAIMING COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE TO CREATE A PATHWAY TO HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS IN THE ROSELAND NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH ALONG WITH NEARBY COMMUNITIES, PULLMAN AND WEST PULLMAN HAVE TRADITIONALLY EXPERIENCED DISINVESTMENT.

THE PROJECT AIMS REMEDY VIOLENCE AND POVERTY BY SUPPORTING RESIDENTS WITH FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND HOMEOWNERSHIP COUNSELING.

THE NEXT 10 HOMES ARE EXPECTED TO BE DELIVERED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS WITH ANOTHER 20 TO 25 HOMES COMING IN 2024.

UP NEXT, A NEW INVESTIGATION EXPLORES WHY SO MANY BLACK WOMEN GO MISSING IN CHICAGO AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY 5TH 3005TH BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> 3RD, WE BELIEVE WOULD DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER A FUTURE HOLDS GREAT PROMISE FOR ALL.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO.

TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES TOGETHER.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.

WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>> BLACK PEOPLE COMPRISE ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF ALL REPORTED MISSING PERSONS CASES IN CHICAGO OVER THE PAST 2 DECADES.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE MISSING PERSONS ARE BLACK GIRLS AND WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 20.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A NEW INVESTIGATIVE SERIES ON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS BY CITY BUREAU AND THE INVISIBLE INSTITUTE.

IT'S AN INVESTIGATION THAT PRESENTS MANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT HOW DETECTIVES STREET MISSING PERSONS CASES.

JOINING US NOW TO TELL US MORE ALREADY, 2 AUTHORS OF THAT REPORT, TRINA REYNOLDS TYLER OF THE INVISIBLE INSTITUTE AND SARAH CONWAY WITH CITY BUREAU.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

SO AS WE DISCUSSED, YOU'VE INVESTIGATED A NUMBER OF CASES IN WHICH BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS HAVE GONE MISSING AND HOW THE POLICE RESPOND TO THOSE DISAPPEARANCES.

TRINA, FIRST TO YOU.

WHAT PROMPTED YOU ALL TO UNDERTAKE THIS INVESTIGATION?

WHAT YOU FIND?

WAS INTERESTING WHEN I WAS TRAINING AS A DATA I WAS HAVING SHIP AT THE HUMAN RIGHTS, GOOD ANALYSIS GROUP IN THE FIRST >> DOCUMENT I LEARNED TO SCRAPE USING STATISTICAL SOFTWARE WAS A FOIA REQUEST WHICH HAD THE OPEN MISSING PERSONS CASES IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

FAST FORWARD TO THE SURFACE, A PROJECT THAT USES MACHINE LEARNING TO PARSE THROUGH NARRATIVE TAX OF POLICE MISCONDUCT RECORDS.

WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY 54 COMPLAINTS BETWEEN 2011 2015 RELATED FAMILIES STAFF FRUSTRATED WITH THE WAY CHICAGO POLICE TREATED WHEN THEY WERE TAKEN TO REPORT SOMEONE MISSING.

SARAH TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE WHAT FIND.

SURE.

SO WITHIN THE INITIAL FIRST 54 COMPLAINTS WE FOUND THAT THEY WERE GROUPED AROUND THE GLASS, OFTENTIMES MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE FROM BLACK WOMEN REPORTING THEIR CHILDREN MISSING.

>> AND WITHIN THAT, WE SAW A COUPLE THREADS.

ONE OF THEM WAS THAT WHEN MOTHERS OR SISTERS WILL GO TO REPORT A LOVED ONE MISSING, THEY WOULD BE TOLD TO WAIT 24 HOURS OR TO BE TONIGHT, A MISSING PERSONS REPORTS.

THAT WAS ONE OF OUR FIRST INITIAL FINDINGS IN OUR INVESTIGATION.

JUST VIOLATION OF STATE LAW.

YEAH.

AND CPS ON THEIR DIRECTIVES SAY THAT NO ONE CAN BE TOTALLY ANY AMOUNT OF TIME NOR CAN ANYONE BE DENIED A MISSING PERSONS REPORT FOR ANY REASON IN CHICAGO.

AND THEN FROM THAT, WE STARTED TO SEE THAT.

PEOPLE IN THESE COMPLAINTS WERE SAYING THAT THEY HAD ABUSIVE LANGUAGE FROM POLICE OFFICERS.

THEY HAD FELT THAT SOMETIMES POLICE HADN'T ACTUALLY LOOK FOR THEIR LOVED ONE AND THOSE COMPLAINTS REALLY THE BEGINNING POINT FOR INVESTIGATION TO THEN LOOK INTO OVER A MILLION RECORDS OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS NOW IS COMPRISED OF POLICE MISSING PERSONS I'M A MEDICAL EXAMINER, DEATH DATA AS WELL AS UNDERLYING DOCUMENTS OTHER REPORTS.

LOT OF TO LOOK THROUGH TO COME UP WITH THIS REPORT.

SO AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU FOUND THAT MANY BLACK CHICAGOANS DIDN'T THINK THAT POLICE WERE TAKING THEIR CASES SERIOUSLY ENOUGH, NOT DOING ENOUGH TO FIND A LOVED ONE'S.

HERE'S A CLIP OF TAMMY PITTMAN, MOTHER OF SEAN TABLE ON A HAN WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND IN AN ABANDONED GARAGE.

>> IT'S A BETWEEN A AND DAUGHTER.

YOUR CHILD IS MISSING IS NOT YOU KNOW, YOU BE THINKING, WHAT IS THIS, WHETHER THIS WOULD BE EVERY MOMENT YOU THINK AND WHERE ARE THEY WHERE THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO POLICE THEY HELP ME I GUYS >> HE'S GROWN.

SHE PROBABLY RAN AWAY.

I WAS LIKE SHE DIDN'T RUN AWAY AND I SHE'S NOT ANSWER HER PHONE.

>> AND TAKE US SERIOUSLY.

TO ME.

THEY JUST BRUSHING OUT BASICALLY MAYBE POLICE DEPARTMENT FAIL ME.

CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT FAILED ME.

>> YOU ALSO REPORT IN 4 CASES, DETECTIVES SAID THAT THE MISSING PERSON HAD RETURNED HOME WHEN THE LOVED ONES WERE LIKE NO, OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED HOME.

WHAT HAS BEEN CPD IS RESPONSE TO YOUR REPORTING.

>> IT'S INTERESTING WHEN PROVIDED THE FINDINGS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THEY HAVE HAD NOTHING TO SAY MOSTLY.

THEY WE INVESTIGATE CASES ACROSS CODE RACES 6 EQUALLY.

BUT IN FACT, THEIR DATA IN THE PAST 5 YEARS IS MISSING.

45 1% OF THE OFFICE ARRIVAL TIME THEY THEMSELVES CANNOT EVEN DO THEIR OWN MEASUREMENT OF THE WAYS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE RESPONDING TO MISSING PERSONS CASES.

>> WE ALSO WERE YOU ALSO SPOKE WITH ANOTHER MOTHER SHORTLY, KILLED, TALKING ABOUT THE DIP DISAPPEARANCE OF HER DAUGHTER.

SONIA WRAPS.

>> THE POLICE JUST WEREN'T DOING IT'S LIKE THEY DIDN'T CARE BECAUSE SHE'S BLACK.

AND FROM THE SOUTH SAID NOBODY'S TRYING TO FIND IT WAS LIKE BECAUSE SHE WAS.

A SUBSTANCE ABUSER.

HIGHLIGHT DIDN'T MATTER.

BECAUSE SHE WAS AT THE AND THE LIFESTYLE THAT SHE WAS LIVING SHE STILL WAS SOMEBODY'S THAT WAS MAD CHAP.

AND IT WAS HE STARTED TELLING US, WELL, YOU KNOW, SHE LIVED HIS LIFE IN U N SHE WAS DOING THIS.

BUT SHE STILL DESERVES TO BE FOUND THAT DON'T MAKE HER NOT ME A HUMAN IN AND SOME BUDDIES FAMILY LOVE.

I LOVE >> SARAH, YOU ALSO WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN FAMILIES WHO SAY THAT THEY FELT AND THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE HAD BEEN IN ADEQUATELY TO GET.

WHAT DO THEY BLAME?

IS IT RACISM?

IS IT INCOMPETENCE?

WHY DID YOU THINK POLICE HAVE IGNORED THESE CASES AS AS THEY BELIEVE THEY HAVE FAMILIES EXPRESSED TO US THAT THEY FEEL IT'S BOTH RACISM, SEXISM AND ZIP CODE THAT THEY LIVE >> THEY FELT THAT THEIR LOVED ONES WERE OFTEN BLAMED FOR THEIR OWN THAT WAS ONE OF THE FINDINGS IN OUR REPORTING.

WAS THAT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FOUND TO DON'T RETURN HOME.

THERE'S OFTENTIMES UNDERLYING PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE DRIVING THIS THIS THAT COULD BE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

A COULD BE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.

IT COULD BE SOMEONE SERVE STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSION.

YOU KNOW, A VARIETY OF THINGS.

AND THAT WAS THAT I WOULD SAY A COMMON THING THAT CAME UP WHEN WE TALKED TO FAMILIES IS NOT ONLY THE ALONE S AND ISOLATION THAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED.

YOU KNOW, ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE REALLY NOT CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER.

IN MANY WAYS.

IT'S A VERY ISOLATING EXPERIENCE TO HAVE SOMEONE GO MISSING.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE TURNING TO THE STATE ENTITY, WHICH IS THE POLICE TO HELP YOU OFF AND FAMILY TO YOU KNOW, THAT THEIR LOVED ONE WAS BLAMED.

I'M THINKING OF, YOU KNOW, DAISY HAYES, SHE WENT MISSING HER DAUGHTER, THERESA SMITH, RECALLED TO US THAT A DETECTIVE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOUR MOTHER FREQUENTS THE LIQUOR STORE.

DAISY HAYES.

HER BODY STILL NEVER BEEN WAS FOOTAGE FROM CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY BUILDING THAT SHE LIVED IN, THAT SHE WENT INTO HER APARTMENT AND NEVER CAME OUT OF HER, YOU KNOW HER MAN THAT SHE HAD BEEN SEEN WAS SEEN.

THEN LATER TAKING THE SUITCASE OUT OF HER APARTMENT AND THROWING IT IN THE TRASH.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT FEW UNDERLYING INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTS THAT SHOWED THAT THE FBI WAS COMMUNICATING WITH CPD ABOUT THAT CASE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A ONE IN A MILLION CHANCE THAT THEY BE ABLE TO RECOVER HER BODY FROM THE GARY INDIANA LANDFILL AND JUST KIND OF GOES TO ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE EXPERIENCING A LOT OF PHONE OR BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS.

WE KNOW, YOU KNOW, DISPROPORTIONATELY EXPERIENCED VIOLENT CRIME IN CHICAGO IN THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE WHEN THEY DO GO MISSING, OFTENTIMES THEIR LOVED FEEL THAT THEY ARE BLAMED FOR THEIR MISSING NURSE.

IT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING EVER CONSIDERED A POSSIBILITY WHEN WHEN THESE WOMEN GO MISSING DO YOU EVER GET THE SENSE THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS FOLLOWED THAT?

>> WELL, INTERESTING, RIGHT, IF YOU ARE TO SUBMIT A PUBLIC RECORDS, REQUEST FOR THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTANCES.

>> IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, YOU YOU WON'T FIND MUCH INFORMATION WHEN WE'RE LOOKING INTO THE DISAPPEARANCES OF SOME OF THESE FOLKS, WE WE KNOW THAT BY THE NATURE OF THEM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE INNOCENCE OF TO KILL A TRIBUTE.

14 YEAR-OLD IN 2019, RIGHT AWAY FROM A DCFS GROUP HOME LITERALLY A DAY AFTER UP IN TURN THIS OVER 30 YEAR-OLD MAN'S ARMS.

HE BEGAN TO BEAT HER, RIGHT?

SHE WAS LATER FOUND IN THE GARY, INDIANA.

HER CASE IS CLOSING ON CRIMINAL IN THE MISSING TO EVEN THOUGH HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION OPENED AS A RESULT OF HER CASE.

YOU SEE THAT SHE THERE WAS CLEARLY SOME SOME KIND OF THEMES THAT RELAY THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING WAS OCCURRING.

BUT IT'S AGAIN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT THEIR DATA, YOU THINK THAT CHICAGO IS IN THE HOT SPOT FOR CHILD PROSTITUTION.

IT IS.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN IN THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY, WE NEED THE SURFACE?

THERE WAS ONE COMPLAINT WHERE OFF-DUTY OFFICER DELIVERED 14 YEAR-OLD GIRL TO A HUMAN TRAFFICKING STING.

ONCE HE DELIVERED HER AND DROVE OFF WITH A PASSENGER IN HIS CAR, A LAW ENFORCEMENT BROUGHT THE MEAN HE WAS ABLE TO RESIGN AND THE FEMALE PASSENGER APPARENTLY GAVE UP A SEPARATE OFFICER WAS LATER CONVICTED OF TRAFFICKING, MOSTLY RUNAWAY GIRLS CHICAGO.

>> THERE'S BEEN A NEWLY FORMED.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT OR NEWLY FORMED STATE TASK FORCE ERA.

DO YOU HAVE ANY EXPECTATIONS AND WHAT IS THAT TASK FORCE EXPECTED TO STATE REP CAMPBELL OR STATE SENATOR MATT THEY FORMED A TASK FORCE.

>> THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE EXPERTS RESEARCHED.

>> HUMAN TRAFFICKING, TOO IMPACTED FAMILIES DIZZY.

HIS DAUGHTER, THERESA SMITH IS ACTUALLY IN THE TASK FORCE.

THEY REALLY DON'T WANT REBUILD THE, YOU KNOW.

>> I GUESS LIKE THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING TO MONTANA, WHICH HAD A TASK FORCE THAT LOOKED INTO THIS VERY SAME ISSUE.

BUT WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN MONTANA, MINNESOTA AS WELL, YOU HAD A TASK FORCE ON MISSING AND MURDERED BLACK WOMEN, GIRLS AND NOW HAS THE STATE THE THE NATION'S FIRST OFFICE FOR MISSING AND MURDERED BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THAT STATE.

SO THE STATE TASK FORCE REALLY DOES WANT TO LOOK AT THE UNDERLYING PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE DRIVING THIS CUP CRISIS AND ALSO TO UNDERSTAND HOW THERE COULD BE IMPROVEMENTS OR ALTERNATIVES TO POLICING WITH THIS ISSUE.

OK, BIG ISSUE.

GREAT REPORTING FROM THE 2 OF YOU TRAIN DERAILED.

TYLER AND SARAH CONWAY.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, HOW A STATEWIDE TEACHER SHORTAGE IS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING STUDENTS OF COLOR.

DESPITE MANY SOUNDING THE ALARM ON A PANDEMIC-RELATED TEACHER EXODUS, THE NUMBER OF NEW ILLINOIS PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS IS ACTUALLY INCREASING, ACCORDING TO WATCHDOG REPORT.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE ACROSS ALL TEACHING POSITIONS, ACCORDING TO ADVANCE ILLINOIS SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE STRUGGLING TO FILL SPECIAL EDUCATION AND BILINGUAL TEACHING POSITIONS.

THEY SAY IT'S HAVING A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON THIS, OUR ROBIN STAINS, PRESIDENT OF ADVANCED ILLINOIS, TYLER HUNT, A 5TH GRADE TEACHER AT GEORGETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN AURORA AND A SENIOR POLICY FELLOW AT TEACH.

PLUS ILLINOIS AND OUR KEY SHIA WASHINGTON, A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AT BOLLING BROOK, HIGH SCHOOL.

THANKS TO ALL 3 OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

WELCOME BACK.

ROBIN, LET'S START WITH YOU.

PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE WHAT CHALLENGES ARE SCHOOL DISTRICTS UP AGAINST HERE?

SO THE REPORT TAKES A LOOK AT THE TEACHING PIPE BIDEN AS A WHOLE RIGHT.

SO HOW ARE WE DOING RECRUITING, PREPARING, GETTING FOLKS INTO CLASSROOMS KEEPING THEM THERE?

>> AND THERE'S SOME GOOD NEWS, WHICH IS GREAT.

AND THERE'S SOME TROUBLING NEWS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE ADDED ABOUT 5400 POSITIONS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AT THE 4% INCREASE.

THAT'S AMAZING.

MORE ON WHY IF YOU WANT, THE SECOND IS THAT WE ARE DIVERSIFYING.

BOTH THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES WHO ARE COMING INTO PROFESSION.

THERE ARE MORE FOLKS GOING INTO TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS.

THAT'S UP BY 16%.

WELL ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, WHICH IS GREAT.

IT'S A MORE DIVERSE SET OF CANDIDATES THAN WE'VE SEEN ABOUT TWICE DIVERSE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.

AND WE THE OVERALL NUMBER TEACHERS OUT IN CLASSROOMS ARE ALSO MORE DIVERSE.

BUT THAT'S NOT KEEPING PACE WITH HOW DIVERSE OUR STUDENTS ARE.

AND THEN AS YOU DESCRIBED THAN OTHER MAJOR FINDING, IS THAT WE'VE GOT PARTICULAR ABSENCES OR BAY ARE SHORTAGES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AND BILINGUAL AND MOST TRAGICALLY STUDENTS OF COLOR.

STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ARE DRAMATICALLY MORE LIKELY TO BE IN DISTRICTS WITH HIGH VACANCY LEVELS MORE THAN TWICE THE VACANCY RATES OR MORE.

BUT THE REST OF THE STATE.

AND THAT THOSE ARE STRIKING DIFFERENCES ABOUT 4 TIMES AS MANY BLACK STUDENTS AS WHITE STUDENTS.

BOB, 3 TIMES AS MANY LOW-INCOME STUDENTS HAS NOT ONLY COME AND THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM.

OKAY.

SO A LOT TO GET INTO HERE AND I WANT TO DIVE INTO ALL OF AS WE ARE KEY SHIA AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS BEHIND SOME OF THE SHORTAGES THAT I FEEL LIKE IT'S TRADITIONALLY BEEN CHALLENGING FOR DISTRICTS TO HIRE SPECIAL ED TEACHERS.

>> SOMETHING THAT'S PROBABLY BE LIKE CHALLENGING OR BEHIND THAT.

THAT RETENTION AT THE TEACHERS?

SO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATION?

CAN I CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY WITH THE TEACHERS SO THAT THE TEACHERS ARE ABLE YOU.

UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY AND STAYING WITH THE CHILDREN AND I'M FEELING SUPPORTED WITHIN THEIR ENVIRONMENT, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUILDING THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE TEACHERS AND THE STUDENTS AND THE STAFF AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DIVERSITY OF HAVING TEACHERS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, TEACHERS.

THERE ARE HERE SALE TEACHERS THAT ARE IN BILINGUAL IN THE MAKING SURE THAT THEY ALL CONNECT AND BUILDING A COMMUNITY AROUND RELATIONSHIP.

>> AS YOU'RE SPEAKING, YOUR FELLOW TEACHER, TYLER IS OVER HERE, NODDING HER WHEN A SCHOOL CAN'T FILL THIS KIND OF NEED.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S OR A SPECIAL ED TEACHER POSITION.

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT THAT HAVE?

>> HAS A COUPLE DIFFERENT IMPACTS WHEN I THINK >> YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY I THINK ABOUT STUDENTS OF COLOR.

SO WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TEACHER OF COLOR THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN ON THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENS I THINK ABOUT TEACHERS, NOT STUDENTS NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES AS TEACHERS.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO SEE SOMEONE DOING THIS OUT OF ACTION, A PROFESSION IN ORDER FOR YOU TO SEE YOURSELF DOING I ALSO THINK LIKE THE OTHER TEACHERS THAT RECRUIT RECRUITING TEACHERS, WE HAVE TO CREATE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES INCLUDE LIKE IN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT WITH A STUDENTS OF COLOR.

WE CREATE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT, THEN THAT WILL MAKE THINK ABOUT LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I CAN MYSELF AS A TEACHER.

I HAVE POSITIVE HAVE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL.

AND I CAN COME BACK AND BE A TEACHER.

>> ARE HUGE.

I WOULD IMAGINE THERE'S A CULTURAL THAT'S MISSING WHEN A TEACHER OF IS NOT IN THE ROOM IN FRONT OF STUDENTS OF COLOR.

>> 100%.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU'RE IN THE CLASSROOM, YOU HAVE DIVERSE LEARNING.

YOU ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE CULTURAL EVEN CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHING A CHILD AND NOT JUST CULTURAL RESPONSIVE FROM A PERSPECTIVE, BUT FROM HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH A CHILD AS INDIVIDUAL WHAT DID YOU EAT FOR DINNER?

BUT NOT BASED ON WHAT I'VE SEEN ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS OR OTHER BLACK AND BROWN THE PRINTER OF BUT WHAT DOES THAT SPECIFIC SCOUR PRINTER THAT'S IMPROVING?

SO BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AND THAT COULD COME IN AND BRING IT TO THEM, ALSO PILLS, GOOD FOR STAFF MEMBERS TO NOT BE BURDENED DOWN BEING THE ONLY PEOPLE OF COLOR OR HAVING A LOW PERCENTAGE IS BEING THE LOW PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE COMING WITHIN THE CLASSROOM THAT SUPPORT THAT WE NEED TO STAFF MEMBERS.

AGAIN, THE HELPS BUILD THAT.

RETENTION THAT WE NEED SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AFRICAN-AMERICANS PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WHO ARE IN JEOPARDY WHEN IT COMES TO BEING EDUCATED SO THAT WE CAN HAVE WEISS IS WITH AN EDUCATION THAT ARE BARBOUR'S WHEN IT COMES DECISION-MAKING FOR OUR SCHOLARS.

>> ROBIN, AS I MENTIONED, IT'S BEEN TRADITIONALLY DIFFICULT CHALLENGING FOR DISTRICTS TO FILL THOSE 2 POSITIONS.

GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT THEY'RE UP AGAINST WHEN TRYING TO FILL TEACHING POSITIONS.

THOSE THE TOUGH ONES IN PARTICULAR.

>> THE >> VACANCY RATES FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS ABOUT TWICE THE STATE AVERAGE.

THAT WAS A PROBLEM COMING INTO THE PANDEMIC IS NOT IMPROVED WITH THE PANDEMIC TO NOT QUITE AS SEVERE FOR BILINGUAL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STATE HAS BEEN DOING MADE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, THEY DOESN'T TARGETED SCHOLARSHIPS TO REALLY TRY TO ENTICE TAKE AWAY FINANCIAL BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE GOING INTO THOSE FIELDS, THOUGH THEY'VE REALLY EXPAND.

WE CREATED A BILINGUAL SET ASIDE FOR MINORITY TEACHERS OF ILLINOIS SCHOLARSHIP.

SO THOSE ARE ALL REALLY GOOD STRATEGIES.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY'VE DONE IS CREATED SOME SHORTCUTS.

WE'VE GOT HUGE UPLIFT IN THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS WHO CAN GET INTO THE CLASSROOM ON SHORT-TERM APPROVALS OR PROVISIONAL LICENSES.

THAT IS JUST SKYROCKETED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

IN FACT, OVER 16% OF BILINGUAL TEACHERS RIGHT NOW ARE TEACHING ON PROVISIONAL LICENSES.

JUST WANT KEEP THAT IS JUST THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER.

TEACHERS WHO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE WE'VE CUT SOME CORNERS.

I HOPE WE'RE COMING RIGHT CORNERS IN THE RIGHT WAYS.

CLEARLY THERE WAS A REASON WHY WE FELT WE NEEDED TO DO THAT.

BUT I WOULD ADD WE DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE IMPACT IS ON THE STUDENTS.

MOST CLASSROOMS.

ARE THOSE TEACHERS GOING ON TO, IN FACT, EARN THEIR LICENSES?

SO IF IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW LIKE THAT, THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE MORE OF A LOOK AND THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION.

IF WE KNOW YET WHAT THE IMPACT IS, A REPAIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TEACHERS WHO GOT A PROVISIONAL LICENSE.

WE DON'T.

BUT I WILL SAY AGAIN, THIS AFFECTS STUDENTS OF COLORS AND STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS DISPROPORTIONATELY.

THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE IN CLASSROOMS BEING LED BY TEACHERS SHORT-TERM APPROVALS ARE PROVISIONAL LICENSES THAN OTHER STUDENTS.

AND SO AGAIN, I THINK IT BEHOOVES US TO FIGURE OUT WITH THE BATS WITH THAT'S OK, THAT'S BEEN GOOD SHORTCUT, WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO TIGHTEN UP.

TYLER, WHAT DO YOU THINK CAN BE DONE TO INCREASE TEACHER RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT?

THEY CAN BE SO MANY THINGS ON.

THE FIRST THING I THINK ABOUT IS WHEN YOU'RE RECRUITING A TEACHER.

>> WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT ARE YOU RECRUITING THEM INTO?

HAVE TO PLUG, TEACH.

THAT IS WHO I WORK WITH ON THEIR TEACHER LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT JUST AMPLIFIES TEACHER VOICES EDUCATION POLICY ISSUES AND SO TEACH.

PLUS RECENTLY THE SPRING THEY PASSED THE RACISM PRESCHOOL ACT WHICH REQUIRES SCHOOLS TRAIN TEACHERS ON HOW TO REPORT POLICE SAY THE GUN ON HOW REPORT RECOGNIZE AND REPORT INCIDENTS OF RACIAL HARASSMENT.

AND SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE BARE MINIMUM TRAINING THAT CAN BE DONE.

I'M A GOOD AT MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE RECRUITING RECRUITING TEACHERS INTO A WELCOMING SPACE.

IF THAT MAKES SENSE THAT TEACHERS CAN DO, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN DO EVEN MORE THAN THAT.

INSTEAD OF HAVING JUST ONE SORT OF IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING FOR LIKE NEW TEACHERS, SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE IS TO HAVE REGULAR TRAINING AMONG CULTURAL COMPETENCY ON, YOU KNOW, PARENT INVOLVEMENT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, A DIFFERENT LEVELS.

OR HE SHOULD.

WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, STILL TEACHER TURNOVER HAS PROVEN TO BE GREATER AT SCHOOLS THAT HAVE PRIMARILY STUDENTS OF COLOR.

>> SIMILAR QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WHAT EFFECT DOES THAT HAVE THAT TURNOVER?

WHAT EFFECT DOES THAT HAVE ON THOSE STUDENTS?

BUT ALSO WHAT DO YOU THINK CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE TEACHER RETENTION RECRUITMENT?

>> THEY HAVE A VERY POOR EFFECT WEEKENDS THERE LET THEIR ABILITY TO BE A RELATIONSHIP SKILLS.

IT WEAKENS THEIR ABILITY TO TRUST SO THAT THE NEXT PERSON THAT DEATH COMING FROM THEM AS AN EDUCATOR OR SUPPORT STAFF IS GOING TO BE HARDER FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THAT CHILD BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE TRUST ISSUES OR BAND OF THE ISSUES BECAUSE TEACHERS IN THE PAST THAT THEY BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH.

HAVE HAD TO LEAVE THE FIELD WHERE SEVERAL MANY DIFFERENT REASONS.

BUT JUST LIKE TYLER ALSO WANT TO JUST EXPAND ON MY DISTRICT BSD ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE BUILD ON IS COMMUNITY COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY.

SO WHEN A IS WITHIN A SCHOOL IN NORTH TO BUILD THEIR RETENTION, WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING COMMUNITY.

WE ARE BUILDING IN SUPPORT WITH MENTOR SHIP.

WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT EVERY SCHOLAR HAS JUST A STUDENT THAT'S IN FRONT OF US, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT THEM AS OUR NEIGHBOR ALSO LOOKING AT THEM AS 15 YEAR-OLD THAT JUST GOT THEIR WORK PERMIT AT THE MYERS UP THE STREET.

SO THEY'RE HELPING US CHECK OUR BAGS.

THEY'RE WALKING US TO OUR CAR.

SO MAKING DECISIONS FOR THEM.

AND WE'RE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS FOR THEM.

WE'RE NOT JUST BUILDING IT FOR THEM AS A STUDENT THAT'S IN FRONT OF US.

BUT IT'S SOMEONE THAT'S IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND ALLOWS TO BE CONNECTED WITH THEM AS SO THAT THE TURNOVER RATE IS LESS LIKELY TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY STILL THE TEACHERS NOW MORE CONNECTED IN COMING UP SCHOOL?

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT A LOT THAT I'M SURE THE 3 OF US THE 4 OF US CAN TALK ABOUT ON THIS ISSUE.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO LET IT GO IN THERE.

OUR CASEY TYLER AND ROBIN STAND.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING THANK THANK YOU FOR HAVING AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTW NEWS AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 AND AT A SPECIAL TIME, 11 O'CLOCK FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES.

HOW A LATINO MUSLIM LEAD ORGANIZATION IS HELPING THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES AND BRANDIS FRIEDMAN STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH.

THAT IS PROUD