the teaching workforce remains predominantly white and female Chicago public schools reflect that same trend.

Despite most students being young people of color, black male teachers are especially underrepresented, according to the most recent CPS figures available.

Black men make up just 3.6% of the district's teachers in partnership with students at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

We look at the implications.

Here's McKenzie Kirkwood.

>> The more children can see.

Folks that look like them to talk like them understand the cultural nuances.

>> That they have little bit easier.

It becomes to teach.

We will easier.

becomes to reach them.

>> We nice to have spent 26 years working in CPS.

He teaches honors math at South Shore, High School.

>> I love love seeing the light bulb go off.

I love seeing them get it.

okay.

>> According to the most recent figures from 2022. black male teachers, like he said, make up just 3.6% of all CPS teachers.

>> If I am thought of as inherently deviant.

What does the school space look like for me?

>> University of Illinois, Chicago professor David Stovall studies the impact of race on educational outcomes.

He says the trauma and hyper surveillance that many black youth experience can be seen again in adulthood.

So the same.

Regulatory things that have happened to black youth in schools are the exact same thing that happened in that same when a black coat right into into the teaching force.

>> In a statement, CPS says that this school year the percentage of black teachers increased from 14% to 20%.

The district did not provide current data broken down by gender.

However, Disney to Makign high school educated Joshua Smith.

He's been teaching in CPS for 5 years, says he's yet to see the increases hit the holes of his school.

>> But I think a Disney there are a decent amount of mail.

Educators in general is just that.

I'm the only black male educator at the school.

>> According to CPS data, there's one black educator for every 21 black students compared to one white educator for every 3 white students.

Smith says his presence at Disney, 2 is about more than just academics.

>> I have students who I don't even teach that will see me in the building that will come up and say hi to like you need that.

But I get some snacks.

My room next to his wife who have never taught that maybe middle school.

What have you Hassabis said like man like you're the only black knows he's here in building like I wish I had your class.

Even though they're being taught by great teachers, right?

Just being in the presence, I guess, of a of a loving, caring and black male figure.

Thank you.

No means means a lot since many cities and it was just a black son is in general after 40, the Trump administration is threatening to withhold federal dollars from CPS over its black student success plan.

>> And while the plan purports to close opportunity gaps, the Trump administration claims that violates the Civil Rights Act even close despite this program being targeted by the White House.

Another program is having an impact at Chicago State University program.

Director Jermaine Morales runs the Call Me Mister Program, which recruits supports and provides for your tuition assistance to young black men wanting to be teachers.

So with the call me Mister Program, we just try to prepare on this is to sort of walk in some type of classroom environment.

>> And just pay it do any type of situation.

And given the Caps is they goes make sure meet its institution and their productive citizens and they're prepared to teach any situation any school district.

And I'm happy to say that doing my part to try to prepare these individuals to make a mark in the world.

>> Cps and programs like Call Me Mister Work to build a more diverse teaching workforce representation in the classroom affects not only how students respond, how teachers teach for Lisa, his day-to-day approach is rooted in caring for his students.

I teach kids.

>> asked some people teach math.

The kids, the kids come first.

Their growth.

Academically, their growth cognitively.

They have growth socially and emotionally as human Once they see that you care about them all those levels, then they open To learn the map.

>> For Wt TWA Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism, I'm McKenzie Cookbook.

>> You can see this story and icago communities in ways still being felt today.

>> Reflecting the people and