Bloomington Public Schools (BPS) received a $250,000 Teacher Mentorship and Retention grant from Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). The grant will expand support for new teachers with the goal of recruiting and retaining a teaching workforce that better reflects Bloomington students.

While 58% of the district’s students are students of color or American Indian, the percentage among district licensed staff is only 6%. The grant funds teacher mentoring for early-career educators of color in their first three years in the classroom. The district’s Office of Educational Equity plans to expand culturally responsive professional learning and conduct “stay interviews” to better understand what helps teachers thrive and create long-term careers in Bloomington.

“Every student in Bloomington deserves the chance to learn from a teacher who understands their story,” said Cassie Mae, secondary cultural proficiency coordinator. “This grant isn't just about retaining teachers. It's about building a district where students of color see themselves reflected in the adults leading their classrooms, with all the confidence and belonging that comes with it.”

The grant is part of a $41 million statewide MDE initiative to invest in the future of Minnesota’s educator workforce, including the Grow Your Own program, through which the district received a grant in 2022. With two years left in the grant, BPS has provided financial support to 17 aspiring teachers from diverse backgrounds to earn a teaching license. In spring 2026, the district celebrated its first program participant to graduate with a teaching degree.