By Kofi Kinney, M.Ed.
Founder, New Teachers on the Block (NTOB)

As we celebrate Juneteenth—a day that marks the delayed freedom of enslaved Black Americans—we must also confront another delay. A delay that may not be captured in textbooks, but one that plays out in classrooms across the country every single day: the delay of educational justice.

Because what is freedom if it doesn’t include the right to learn?
And what is the right to learn without a teacher to guide that journey?

The Disappearing Teacher

Let’s get real: in some of our most marginalized schools, the teacher is disappearing.
Not in theory—in real life. In real numbers. In real time.

🚨 Nearly 1 in 2 teachers in high-poverty schools leave within five years.
That means for every bright, brilliant, and resilient student walking into school with hope, there’s a 50% chance that the adult they trusted to teach them won’t make it past year five. And for many students—especially those with exceptional learning needs—the turnover happens even faster.

This isn’t just a staffing issue. It’s not just an HR crisis.

💔 Retention is equity.
When teachers leave, students lose. Period.

The Equity Gap Grows Wider

At New Teachers on the Block, we’ve worked alongside new teachers and school leaders across the country. We’ve seen firsthand what happens when schools fail to invest in their newest educators. It’s not just about burnout—it’s about system failure.

And that system is now under even greater threat.

The Federal Department of Education Is Under Attack

In recent months, political rhetoric has turned into real legislative pushes to dismantle the federal Department of Education. And if that happens, the fallout will be catastrophic—especially for marginalized communities.

Here’s what we risk losing:

1️⃣ Lower Standards, Less Accountability

Without federal oversight, each state sets its own bar for what counts as “qualified.” This creates a patchwork of unequal preparation—where some students get master teachers, and others get the bare minimum.

2️⃣ Cuts to Title I and Special Education Funding

Programs that support schools serving low-income students and students with disabilities are federally funded. Without this support, schools will be forced to stretch already thin budgets even further, often at the cost of the very students who need it most.

3️⃣ Widening Inequity

When we remove federal protections, we widen the gap between the haves and the have-nots. The result? Underfunded schools, overwhelmed teachers, and under-supported students—especially in rural towns, urban centers, and everywhere poverty exists.

Let’s be clear: marginalized is not just a Black or white issue.
It’s a socioeconomic issue that crosses racial, geographic, and cultural lines. It’s about access. And the current teacher shortage is widening every gap we say we care about.

Robots Aren’t the Answer

Which brings me back to the question at the heart of this post:

Will it take robots teaching our kids for us to realize we’re losing real teachers?

Because AI is advancing. Tech is accelerating. And the temptation to replace rather than restore is real. But our students don’t just need content delivery—they need connection. They need care. They need human beings who can look them in the eyes and say, “I see you. I believe in you. I’m staying.”

No robot can do that.
Only teachers can.

This Is Why New Teachers on the Block Exists

At New Teachers on the Block, we’re not just in the business of onboarding and coaching. We’re in the business of changing retention outcomes—especially for next-gen teachers serving students in high-need schools.

We work with school leaders to build environments that retain, support, and develop new educators so that every student gets what they deserve: a teacher who is equipped, empowered, and committed to the long haul.

This Juneteenth, Let’s Expand the Definition of Freedom

This Juneteenth, let’s expand the conversation. Because educational justice is racial justice. It’s economic justice. It’s generational justice.

And it’s worth fighting for.

How You Can Take Action:

✅ Speak up — Talk about teacher retention at your school board meetings.
📝 Vote — Local elections matter. Know where your candidates stand on education.
💼 Support the work — Invest in organizations like NTOB that are on the ground doing the hard, heart-centered work of keeping great teachers in classrooms.

Let’s Talk:

What would you do if your child’s only teacher was AI?
How do we keep the human at the center of education?

Drop your thoughts in the comments or share this blog with someone who cares.

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