I’ve spoken and written at length about the need for educators to speak out against racism in all facets… especially concerning the educating of Black children. I’ll continue to do so because the totality of Black lives—academic, personal, and professional interactions and experiences—of Black children depend upon it. Whether it is speaking out against disproportionate disciplining i.e. suspensions, expulsions, and arrest, of Black children in schools, the lack of Black teachers in schools, the lack of culturally relevant and responsive curriculum in schools, or the banning of books and Black ..read more

A few months ago, a teacher shared in an Education Week column that they were told by their eighth-grade student that they (the teacher) worked for them (the students). This came about as the teacher was cleaning up after students and reminding them (and I am paraphrasing) that they were too old not to clean up after themselves. The student responded with the comment without venom, but with a matter-of-fact-ness that embodies the current climate as to how education is perceived: as an industry with consumers and businesses competing for the opportunity to serve them. If one believes that distr ..read more

According to a recent study, hiring managers pass over “names associated with Black people” in all 50 states when reviewing resumes. 1,500 people were surveyed as part of the study, and what was found was: “… names of workers perceived as Black, such as Shanice or Terell, were more likely to elicit negative presumptions, such as being less educated, productive, trustworthy, and reliable, than people with either white-sounding names, such as Melanie or Adam, or racially ambiguous names, such as Krystal or Jackson.” Particularly unique about this study was that it added a time requirement for se ..read more

In 2021, a Utah school district was found ripe with racism. A federal civil rights investigation released in October 2021 found widespread racial harassment of Black and Asian American students at the Davis School District, located in Farmington, UT, including hundreds of documented uses of the N-word and other racial epithets over the last five years: “Black students throughout the district told investigators about similar experiences of white and non-Black students calling them the N-word, referring to them as monkeys or apes and saying that their skin was dirty or looked like feces, accordi ..read more

Abigail Henry is an African American history and AP African American Studies teacher in Philadelphia. She remotely teaches an African American history course for educators for St. Michael’s College in Vermont. And she is the founder of theBLKcabinet, a consultancy that focuses on Black history education. In 1777, Vermont became the first colony to abolish slavery, and the state generally prides itself on this history. But as I have learned from preparing teachers there to teach Black history, that does not mean the state is a radical example of Black liberation and activism. Before developing ..read more

We’ve reached the midway point of the school year; the “dog days” of January, February, and March. This is the gritty portion of the year. There are few breaks, students are in the thick of their coursework while teachers are trying to keep students (and themselves) motivated, and for millions of students (and their teachers and parents), state assessments are looming. But as an educator, I’d be lying if I did not say that it wasn’t hard to push through. But push we must and we must continue the intellectual rigor with vitality and compassion. So how do we do it? Some educators will recommend ..read more

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is all the rage these days. People are using artificial intelligence for all types of functions, including crafting resumes, analyzing data, and checking out shoppers at supermarkets. With all that AI has contributed to thus far, there’s even more that can be done. According to McKinsey’s research, we have barely scratched the surface; also suggesting generative AI could add the equivalent of $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy. For capitalists, that means there’s more money to be made with newer technologies. For ..read more

Governor Shapiro appears to have a plan.  The Governor wants to make college more affordable. He wants to make a productive career upon graduation more of a certainty. He wants to make higher education the real pathway to social mobility we like to tell ourselves it is. Look. If the man can galvanize folks to rebuild a bridge on I-95 in two weeks, perhaps we shouldn’t bet against him on this. But we should be clear–this is an absolutely massive task. College in Pennsylvania isn’t cheap. It’s also no guarantee of gainful employment upon graduation. Yes, it is absolutely a worthy investment ..read more

E’ry day this month, the Center for Black Educator Development, in partnership with Phillys7thWard.org, will highlight a Black Educator Hall of Famer. But, don’t forget, e’ry month is Black History Month. February is just the Blackest. Today, our featured Black educator is Gwendolyn Bennett. Gwendolyn Bennett was born in Giddings, Texas on July 8, 1902, to Joshua and Mamie Bennett. Both parents worked as educators of Indigenous children with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. After moving to Washington D.C. Bennett’s parents divorced. Mamie Bennett was awarded custody, but Joshua Bennett ..read more

E’ry day this month, the Center for Black Educator Development, in partnership with Phillys7thWard.org, will highlight a Black Educator Hall of Famer. But, don’t forget, e’ry month is Black History Month. February is just the Blackest. Today, our featured Black educator is Gertrude Elise Ayer. Gertrude Elise Ayer was born in New York City, NY on October 13, 1884. Her father, Dr. Peter Augustus Johnson, was one of the first African-American doctors and a founder of the National Urban League. Ayer attended schools in New York; elementary and secondary schools. She was the first African ..read more