RENO, Nev.

After 36 years with the Washoe County School District, George Hardaway is about to retire.

But he laments the few minority educators who will remain once he's gone.

"That's the most discouraging thought," said Hardaway, assistant principal of attendance at Wooster High School.

"We haven't prepared other people of color to be in these positions."

Jerry Holloway, the fourth Black educator hired in the district, retired this month after 42 years. He said he sympathizes with the district and its efforts to recruit a diverse educational staff.

Holloway said if anyone has ideas on how to increase minority staff, "I'm sure the Washoe County School District would take under advisement their opinions."

This month, Hispanic, Blacks, Asian and Native American district employees are 6.44 percent of certified teachers and 8.97 percent of administrators in Washoe County, according to Fátima Rivas, district Hispanic liaison specialist.

"We know that's an issue," she said. "We know that we need to increase the number of bicultural minority teachers and it's a task the district has been working on. However, there's a lot that we really need to do."

Hardaway has been encouraging the district to hire more Hispanic teachers and administrators for nearly two decades.

"Kids respond to people that look like them," Hardaway said. "Kids respond to people who will take the time to understand their culture and be sensitive to their needs.

"We have bright children that are falling through the cracks and why are they falling through the cracks? Because they can't identify with their teachers."

Recruiting more minority educators is difficult across the county since the number seeking a degree in education has decreased, Holloway said. He said that's partly because more fields, such as medicine and engineering, are seeking diverse staffs and recruiting and hiring a more ethnically diverse work staff.