The Latinx Education Collaborative: Empowering Latino Youth Through Representation and Advocacy
The Latinx Education Collaborative (LEC) is a driving force in the greater Kansas City metro area and beyond, working to create the necessary conditions for the advancement of Latino youth. Recognizing the critical role of representation, the LEC focuses on increasing the number of Latinx educators, strengthening home and school partnerships, increasing student empowerment, and solidifying allies’ support for Latinx student achievement outcomes.
The Critical Need for Latinx Educators
Across the nation, a significant disparity exists between the percentage of Latinx students and Latinx teachers. In schools nationwide, less than 10% of teachers are Latino. In Kansas City, that number is even less. This lack of representation can leave Latino students feeling like outsiders in their own schools, according to Susana Elizarraraz, a former teacher at Gladstone Elementary School. As the only Latino educator at her school, Elizarraraz often found herself assisting parents from other classrooms with translation and understanding school-related documents. "Parents of kids in other classrooms that I didn't have began knocking on my door and say, 'I have this bill that I don't understand, can you help me'?" Elizarraraz said. "It was really cool to come full circle and see the gratitude come over families faces, sometimes the parents, sometimes the kiddos themselves, that I could speak their language."
Edgar Palacios, the founder of the Latinx Education Collaborative (LEC) and Revolucion Educativa (RevED), emphasizes the importance of representation with the powerful statement, "You can't be what you can't see." He recognized that classrooms were filled with Latino students, but very few Latino teachers.
The impact of having Latinx teachers extends beyond the classroom. Miriam Galan, a parent in Kansas City Public Schools, shared her experience of navigating the school system without knowing the language or understanding the application process. Representation is not only important for Latino students, but for their families, too. "When I first started, I didn't know the language, I didn't know how to do the application and how the school system works, so it was very difficult," Galan said. With increased representation, families feel more empowered, confident, and equipped to advocate for their children's education. "We are more empowered, we are are more confident, we learn about many things," Galan said. "The most important thing, in my case, is learning how to advocate for my children."
Emerging data suggests that students have better educational outcomes when they see themselves reflected in the teachers and administrators that serve them.
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Addressing the Barriers
The LEC recognizes that there are several barriers preventing Latino individuals from entering the education profession. Elizarraraz explained the cost of higher education, teacher certifications and overall attitudes toward educators in schools deter potential Latino students from the teaching industry. "There are all of these cracks within the system, and there are people who say maybe this isn't for me," Elizarraraz said. These include cultural and narrative-driven factors, such as the perception that education doesn't pay well or isn't a prestigious career, as well as systemic barriers like lack of high school completion, scholarship opportunities, and access to mentorship.
LEC's Four-Pillar Approach
To address these challenges and achieve its mission, the LEC employs a multi-pronged approach, focusing on four strategic objectives:
Growing Representation and Retention of Latinx Educators: The LEC actively works to increase the number of Latinx teachers in schools. Edgar Palacios launched several programs with the Latinx Education Collaborative to increase the number of Latino teachers in Kansas City area schools. The organization recognizes that a "low amount" of teachers of color, particularly from the Latinx community. While 25% of students in K-12 are Latinx, only 9% of teachers are Latinx. This includes initiatives like the Futuros program, which aims to add 50 new Latinx educators to the Kansas City metro area by 2027. In two years, he explained the number of Latino teachers has doubled from 1% to 2% in Kansas City Public Schools. "It doesn't seem like a lot, comparatively, because there are teacher shortages, but when you're thinking about 1% of educators in Kansas City are Latino and you start growing that number, those gains are significant overtime," Palacios said. The LEC provides wraparound support and helps them stay connected and encouraged.
Strengthening Latinx Home & School Partnerships: Recognizing the crucial role of families in student success, the LEC works to strengthen partnerships between Latinx families and schools. Representation is not only important for Latino students, but for their families, too. This involves equipping parents with the tools and resources to advocate for their children's education and engage with the school system.
Increasing Latinx Student Empowerment: The LEC empowers Latinx students by fostering culturally affirming learning environments and providing opportunities for leadership development. We also work alongside Latino parents to equip them with tools to advocate for their children’s education and engage with Latino students to inspire and prepare them for future leadership.
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Solidifying Allies’ Support for Latinx Student Achievement Outcomes: The LEC recognizes that achieving educational equity requires the support of allies. This involves building bridges with other communities and advocating for policies that promote representation, equity, and inclusion.
Signature Programs and Initiatives
The Latinx Education Collaborative implements several key programs and initiatives to achieve its strategic objectives:
Futuros Program: This comprehensive initiative targets aspiring Latinx educators from middle school through college and beyond. The Futuros program aims to add 50 new Latinx educators to the greater Kansas City metro teacher pipeline by December 2027. This comprehensive initiative seeks to address the critical underrepresentation of Latinx teachers in the region. The program offers culturally responsive and affirming experiences at each stage of their educational journey, including in-school presentations, family engagement, partnerships with local organizations, scholarship opportunities, summer camps, mentorship, and certification support.
Expresión Storytelling Fellowship: In partnership with Storytellers for Change, this national professional development initiative helps Latino educators develop and share their personal narratives. This program helps Latino educators develop and share their personal narratives. It’s a way to humanize educators and build deeper connections with students. Participants cultivate their storytelling skills and co-craft narratives to shape the future of the educational equity and excellence movement. We believe educators who understand and embrace their own stories can better model authenticity and self-awareness for the young people they serve. Commitment- 3-hour virtual orientation and retreat.- Participate in nine 1.5-hour virtual workshops.- Participate in two coaching sessions with facilitators from the Latinx Education Collaborative and Storytellers for Change. Coaching sessions will be scheduled individually. - Participate in a 1 hour recorded interview to share your experience and feedback. Shape the future of the narrative change in education.
Evolución Conference: This annual fall conference brings together education professionals and allies for a day of engaging discussions, keynotes, and breakout sessions that address the challenges and opportunities in the field. Evolución, the LEC’s annual fall conference is dedicated to supporting Latinx educators. This event brings together education professionals and allies for a day of engaging discussions, keynotes, and breakout sessions that address both the challenges and opportunities in the field. Evolución is tailored for current Latinx educators seeking culturally responsive professional development, as well as future Latinx professionals who want to expand their networks and explore career opportunities.
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Latinx Educator Awards: This annual event recognizes and celebrates the outstanding contributions of Latinx educators who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their students and communities. The Latinx Educator Awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of Latinx educators who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their students and communities. This event in late spring recognizes individuals who are not only leaders in the classroom but also champions of equity, inclusion, and representation within the education system. The awards highlight the achievements of these educators in fostering a supportive and empowering environment for Latinx students, advocating for culturally responsive teaching practices, and inspiring the next generation of Latinx leaders.
KCK-12 Tours: The KCK-12 tours provide an immersive, behind-the-scenes look at area schools serving a higher concentration of students who identify as Latinx. Attendees learn and exame the varying approaches schools and districts are taking to address the fastest growing student population in the country. These tours provide real world and concrete examples of why increasing and retaining Latinx education professionals is at the core of LEC’s mission.
Leadership and Community Engagement
The Latinx Education Collaborative is led by a team of dedicated professionals with a deep commitment to education and community empowerment.
Edgar J. Palacios, the founder of the LEC and Revolucion Educativa (RevED), is a passionate advocate for Latino representation in education. Deanna Muñoz serves as the Director of Strategic Alliances for the Latinx Education Collaborative and as the Founder of the Chicano Center for the Arts. Iván Ramirez is actively engaged in initiatives that uplift the Latino community through organizations like Revolución Educativa and the Latinx Education Collaborative, hosting impactful events like Evolución Latino Education Conference, the Familias Empoderadas Summit, and the Impacto Changemaker Awards. Dr. Ana Valdez serves as the Director of Organizational Effectiveness at the Latinx Education Collaborative. Tricia McGhee is the Director of Communications for the Latinx Education Collaborative and Revolución Educativa. Christy Moreno is the Chief Community Advocacy & Impact Officer at Revolución Educativa (RevED). Sebastian Salvador serves as the Community Engagement Coordinator, coordinating “EducaTec,” a digital literacy initiative.
The LEC also collaborates with a diverse network of partners, including schools, districts, community organizations, and funders.
A Vision for the Future
The Latinx Education Collaborative envisions a future where Latinx students thrive and become well-positioned, influential leaders working to advance their community. The LEC believes it starts by increasing the number of quality Latinx teachers. The organization recognizes that the challenges it addresses, such as teacher diversity and systemic inequities, are generational challenges that require long-term commitment.
Community Involvement
Community involvement is everything. It’s unrealistic to expect schools and districts to solve these issues alone. Educating a child is a community effort, everyone has a role to play. Whether it’s showing up for school board meetings, advocating for better policies, mentoring students, or simply being present in the school environment, every action matters. Our youth succeed when we all show up for them.
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