The Toronto District School Board is looking to hire more men and members of racial minorities.

The Globe and Mail got their hands on a memo sent to staff that says gender and race could land a candidate an interview.

The memo states that, in addition to being 'an outstanding teacher,' interviews will be granted to candidates that meet one or more of the following criteria:  "Male, racial minority, French, Music, Aboriginal."

A board spokesman says there is a need for more male teachers and aboriginal teachers in many parts of Ontario, and Toronto is only one of them.

He adds more than half of teachers in the TDSB are women.

The TDSB competency is always the first requirement and that people who represent other groups will not be denied an interview.

Officials say the Toronto District School Board is trying hire more teachers that reflect the diversity of its student body.

According to a TDSB census from 2007, about 2 in 10 teachers are visible minorities, while 7 out of 10 students are visible minorities.