Luján and Gallego Bill to Boost Teacher Retention Endorsed by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus

Washington, D.C. –Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) proudly announced the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ endorsement of the Teachers Leading, Educating, Advancing, and Designing (Teachers LEAD) Act of 2022. The bill, introduced jointly by Senator Luján in the Senate and U.S. Representative Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) in the House, would establish a competitive grant program through the Department of Education that would provide professional leadership and development opportunities for educators.

“I’m proud to have led this legislation, which is a bold investment in our teachers and our students,” said Luján. “The Teachers LEAD Act will work to empower New Mexico’s teachers by providing funding for districts to implement new models and provide more compensation for teachers who remain in the classroom while taking on added leadership roles. By providing the resources and opportunities that teachers need to lead in their schools and communities, we are honoring the critical work that New Mexico’s teachers do every day. I’m pleased to have the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ support, as this bill will lift up teacher leaders in Hispanic, Latino and Native communities and incentivize district partnerships with Hispanic Serving Institutions and other Minority Serving Institutions throughout New Mexico and the country.”

“Educating Arizona’s future leaders means having high-quality teachers in our state,” said Gallego. “The Teachers LEAD Act will ensure all teachers—especially those in our historically underserved Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities—have the resources they need to develop their careers, better serve their students, and prevent them from burning out. In Arizona, we have seen a real crisis of teacher retention, especially among educators of color. We can and must do more to address this, and I’m glad to have the backing of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in our efforts to build a better education system for communities everywhere.”

“The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is proud to endorse the Teachers Leading, Educating, Advancing, and Designing (LEAD) Act of 2022,” said Rep. Raul Ruiz, Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “According to a 2022 National Education Association survey, 59% of Hispanic or Latino educators said they were more likely to retire early or leave the profession. We must improve teacher retention and prevent teacher burnout by empowering teachers. They know best how to lead, support each other, collaborate, and implement strategies to address the unique needs of their schools. I thank Rep. Ruben Gallego and Sen. Ben Ray Luján for their leadership on this bill to establish a competitive grant program through the Department of Education to provide this localized support for our educators and students.”

For more information on the Teachers LEAD Act, click here.

For the full text of the bill, click here.