“We have yet to reckon with the influence of racism and white supremacy in all of our spaces, but especially schools.”  Dr. Daman Harris Manager of Higher Education Partnerships, Co-Director BOND Project, Author www.damanharris.com Bondeducators.org Book: The Antiracist School Leader “There have always been people around me that poured into me.” In this enlightening episode, we dive into the journey of Dr. Daman Harris, an educator, author, and co-director of The Bond Project (located in the Baltimore/DC Metro area). Dr. Harris reflects on his experiences as a Black student in different ..read more

“Each generation has to make sure that the next generation does better.” Dr. Don Parker Educational Keynote Speaker, Author, Former Administrator, Dean and Educator https://drdonparker.com/about/ “I absolutely knew what I wanted to do. I knew what I wanted my future to look like." #Shoutout to the PE Teachers! As a Black male educator, author, speaker, and coach, Dr. Don Parker has carved out a unique path. He’s been able to blend his content expertise, social emotional learning framework and gap closing interventions into meaningful professional development sessions that help educators move ..read more

“Being an educator is a lifestyle.” Tierra Jones Classroom Teacher (Spanish, World History), Paraprofessional “I get those kids because I was that kid.” Ms. Tierra Jones, a classroom teacher and paraprofessional, emphasizes the significance of representation in education, recognizing her own journey from a skeptical student to a dedicated educator. With quotes like "I am a teacher" and "State of Emergency," she highlights the urgency of addressing challenges within the education system. Despite facing personal struggles and doubts about schooling, Ms. Jones has found purpose and confidence in ..read more

“Get Curious” Abdel Shakur 15th year English Teacher, Podcast Host https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/black-teacher-matters/id1542560174 "The essence of humanity…" #Shoutout to the power of our stories. Abdel Shakur is an English teacher with over 15 years of experience, and is the host of the Black Teacher Matters podcast. As he reflects on his educational voyage, he realizes the tremendous impact Black educators made on his life. He never thought about becoming a teacher, until a role as a community liaison led him to pursue a career in the classroom.  “You don’t have to do it all ..read more

“I know I love to read and I know we need to cultivate that in students.” Cynthia Cobb HR Generalist, Training and Development Storytime Anytime 4U "School was part of our family DNA." This week, we engage with Ms. Cynthia Cobb, a nontraditional guest with a rich background in human resources and training and development. Through reflecting on her educational experiences, both inside and outside of the home, Cynthia shares why she is an education advocate with a passion for reading and access to books. With a deep-rooted appreciation for the importance of representation, she emphasizes the si ..read more

The Triple C Affect “The world doesn’t really respond to them the way that we do.” Henry Caudle - 7th Grade Special Education Math Teacher Robert Chatmon - 12th Grade Economics Teacher Dr. Aaron Carter Jr - Principal, US History Teacher (23 years) https://www.thetriplecaffect.com/ “Tough love has been out since 2010. There is no tough love if they don’t love you.” In this wonderful conversation, filled with quotables and wisdom, we are able to hear from 3 Black male educators. Mr. Robert Chatmon (making history and uplifting education was always in his blood), Mr. Henry Caudle (whose dad reco ..read more

“Other people see our value… but we don’t…” Young Ladies at all Times Sherri Simmons www.youngladiesatalltimes.com Assistant Principal, Nonprofit Founder and President, Elementary School Teacher, STEAM Instructional Coach "The education system is designed for us to fail." Embark on a transformative journey with Ms. Sherri Simmons, an educational leader and founder of a nonprofit, as she unpacks the challenges and triumphs within the education system. With 18 years of experience, Sherri underscores the critical need for representation for Black children in her district, where she serves as an ..read more

“Take educator skill sets into the community to thrive in different ways.” Kendra Nalubega-Booker Educator, K-12, Higher Ed, Author, Executive Leader in Tech Company https://www.amazon.com/Hacking-Culturally-Inclusive-Teaching-Anti-racist/dp/1956512306 https://www.instagram.com/becoming.dr.booker/ "We’re going to co-create together" In this week’s compelling episode, we speak with Kendra Nalubega-Booker, as she takes us on a transformative journey from Illinois to Africa. Born in Rwanda and raised in Uganda, Kendra faced the impact of colonialism, attending Muslim school, boarding school, day ..read more

*Trigger warning, mental health* “Working with kids gave me purpose.” Donovan Taylor Hall Youth Development Specialist https://www.instagram.com/donofriend/ “Kids need people to invest in them so they can learn to invest in themselves.” Oh the joys of a healing journey. This episode, we are joined by Mr. Donovan Taylor Hall, affectionately known as Donofriend. After a tumultuous educational experience in Virginia, he had a life changing encounter with a Black educator that changed his perspective on what was possible for his life. As he continues to explore who he wants to be and how he wants ..read more

"TSU saved my life." Dionne Cooley Computer Science Teacher “My worry is for those students like me, at predominately white schools…”  #Shoutout to Tennessee State University! This week, Ms. Dionne Cooley, a Computer Science teacher with 16 years of experience, takes us on a walk down memory lane through her educational and career journey. Originating from St. Louis, MO, she experienced the culture shock of being bussed to school, honing her adaptability skills from an early age. Dionne's unique path into education, initially a business administration and marketing major, was influenced ..read more