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The Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium (PEDC) is powered by a dedicated group of educators, leaders, and community members. Together, we work to increase teacher diversity and promote teaching practices that respect and reflect students' cultures across Pennsylvania.
Our progress is made possible by many individuals who volunteer their time, knowledge, and skills. From our Board of Directors and Executive Leaders to Working Group Leaders and Collaborators, each person plays an important role in our mission. Their teamwork and commitment help us create positive changes in education.
Formed in 2024, our Board of Directors brings together leaders from different backgrounds. They guide our vision, ensure we stay on track, and help us move forward in making Pennsylvania's teaching workforce more diverse. Many board members have been part of PEDC since the beginning, serving in various roles such as advisors, members, and leaders.
As part of our collective impact approach, PEDC’s Backbone Team plays a vital role in coordinating and supporting the shared efforts of our network. They work to align strategies, strengthen capacity, and sustain momentum across our initiatives to diversify Pennsylvania’s educator workforce.
At PEDC, we honor the communities, ancestors, and collaborators who make our work possible. With gratitude, we acknowledge their enduring legacies and commit to advancing equity through education.
Since launching in 2019, PEDC (formerly A2E) has grown into a powerful force for equity in Pennsylvania education. What began as a small coalition now includes over 650 members from 330 organizations across the state—and a network that reaches 34 states, D.C., and Canada.
Our working groups—Policy & Advocacy, CRSE, Youth Leadership, Data & Research, Pipeline, and Summit—unite educators, advocates, and change-makers who bring expertise, energy, and bold ideas. Together, we’re not just imagining a more just education system—we’re building it.
We are deeply grateful to the funders and philanthropic partners who fuel our mission. Support from NewSchools Venture Fund, The Heinz Endowments, The McElhattan Foundation, William Penn Foundation, Spring Point Partners, The Henry L. Hillman Foundation, and generous individuals goes far beyond dollars—it’s a shared commitment to equity, justice, and the power of diverse educators in every classroom.
Their investment helps us uplift the voices of those most impacted by injustice and build a future led by communities closest to the work.
We recognize and acknowledge Pennsylvania as being the land of the Erie, Iroquois, Lenni-Lenape (len-op-ay), Shawnee, Susquehannock (suh-skwah-ha-naak), and Tuscarora nations, and the Honniasont (hon-e-uh-sent), Saluda, Saponi (sa-pony), Tutelo (too-tel-o), and Wenrohronon (when-ron-en) tribes. We recognize that the land needs to be restored to the Indigenous nation or nations that previously had sovereignty over the land. We pay respect to the Native peoples of Pennsylvania past, present, and future and their continuing presence in their homeland and throughout their diasporas.
We also recognize the African ancestors who were forcibly brought to this country through the transatlantic slave trade, whose stolen labor built much of the economic foundation of this nation. We honor their resilience, creativity, and enduring contributions to American culture, education, and community.
These layered histories of displacement, enslavement, and systemic injustice continue to shape our educational institutions. As a collective working toward equity and justice in education, we commit to acknowledging these truths, uplifting historically marginalized voices, and building learning spaces that affirm the dignity, histories, and brilliance of all communities.
We invite our members and partners to reflect on the legacies they inherit, the lands they inhabit, and the communities they serve—and to take intentional steps toward repair, justice, and liberation.
Transforming education takes all of us. Whether you're a student, teacher, advocate, or leader, your voice matters. Join PEDC in building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable education system where every learner thrives and every educator is empowered.
