Minnesota College Launches 'Sirtify' Program To Help Increase The Number Of Black Men In Teaching

Sirtify was conceptualized explicitly as a measure to help bridge the achievement gap between white and Black students in the state by bringing more Black men into the classroom.

“[The Sirtify] program meets the needs of the community and fills a much-needed gap as it relates to representation in the teacher population,” Marvis Kilgore, Sirtify’s program coordinator, said.

“Here [in Minnesota], we have an alarming disproportionate rate of Black male teachers, and that caused us to ask lots of questions, and it also called us to action,” he continued.

The program is open to men who identify as Black, African, or African American, and it currently has over a half-dozen recruits aged between 18 and 41.

Upon being accepted into Sirtify, students receive access to support — both personal and academic — as they work toward their degree. They also receive an annual scholarship through the grant-funded program, and they get help when the time comes to transfer to a 4-year university.

“We give them professional support, leadership training, cross-cultural and intercultural training as well as academic support,” Kilgore noted.

Kezelee Jones, an 18-year-old student within the program, spoke on how it’s helping to make his dreams a reality.

“I’ve always dreamed of being a teacher, and this is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” he said.

“I chose the Sirtify program at Normandale simply because it allowed me the opportunity to pursue a dream that I felt was unable to happen.” – Darringer Funches, Sirtify cohort member.https://t.co/sBttGR9AbJ pic.twitter.com/vcfmRPte7Y

— Normandale Community College (@normandale_cc) April 13, 2022

Darringer Funches, another Sirtify participant, also spoke on why he wants to become a teacher.

“Having someone be an influence upon you definitely helped me,” he noted. “I had the opportunity to have six or seven individuals who were African American males. They played a part in me wanting me to become a teacher.”

“Having a program like this opens up the door for more African American men to get into the workforce, become teachers and put a stamp on giving our students more so our Black male students that positive role model and positive imagery they need,” Funches added.