With the rise of social media and the ability for niche content to become popular, it is exciting to see such a well-developed space made by and for the people who are educating the next generation. Teachers do so much for the community that often goes unnoticed. Now, through social media, they are finally getting the attention they deserve.
As Black History Month comes to a close, we wanted to share these Black teachers who deserve recognition. These teachers not only work hard for their students, but work hard towards many of their advocacy efforts.
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Classroom Superstars
Shelby Lattimore
@shelby_thatsmee Paying Rent as Third Graders has begun and I’m super excited! #start #pajamas #school
During a particularly boring math lesson or confusing pop quiz, we have all asked, “When am I going to use this school concept in the real world?” This is a question Shelby Lattimore’s students will never ask.
Lattimore prepares her third-grade students through engaging and appropriate budgeting lessons throughout the year. Students take on classroom jobs to pay for “renting” their desks or to buy rewards like homework passes. These activities not only teach her students about the value of money but also provide them with lifelong valuable skills about how to manage their finances in the future.
Alfred ‘Shivy’ Brooks
Working as a teacher and now an elected member of the Atlanta Board of Education, Alfred ‘Shivy’ Brooks comes from a family line of teachers and is continuing to shape education. He knows the best way to help his students is to help improve educational policies, so he made history by becoming the first active teacher to serve on the Board in over 150 years. With this position, he plans to increase student safety, build community, and integrate technology literacy into the classroom curriculum.
Sunn m’Cheaux
@sunnmcheaux Reply to @whatsgoodenglish Code-Switching Can Save Lives… Literally!🩺 #weoutchea #gullah #geechee #linguistics #language #aae #be #blackenglish #creole #codeswitching #fypageシ #fypシ #charlestonmagazine #interview sunnmcheaux.com
We all know that one friend who paid too much attention during grammar lessons and now insists you use the word “whom” correctly. But did you know that these tight rules aren’t just annoying, but vary based on cultural differences?
Sunn m’Cheaux, an instructor at Harvard University, shares his Gullah/Geechee knowledge in the classroom and online. His platform challenges the prejudice associated with promoting “proper” English at the cost of rich structures like African American Vernacular English, or AAVE.
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Black Teachers Outside the Classroom
Imani Barbarin
@crutches_and_spice Crutches And How To Use Them | Part 1: Anatomy, Adjusting, and maintenance of your crutches.
Learning exists in every sphere, which means some Black teachers exist outside the classroom. These days, we can learn so much online and through educators on social media like Imani Barbarian, otherwise identified by the handle Crutches and Spice. Imani is a blogger and public speaker who uses her platform to talk about her life as a Black woman with Cerebral Palsy and advocate for other people with disabilities. She provides a perspective that many able-bodied people may overlook if they have never dealt with disabilities firsthand.
Amanda Seales
Any good teacher will tell you that it is okay not to know all the answers. The best thing to do is ask someone who can help you figure it out. Through her podcast Small Doses and YouTube videos View from Amandaland, Amanda Seales sits down to interview a wide variety of people on subjects related to community building and social justice. She finds value in interweaving humor and intellectualism to give her audience enjoyable, yet important, entertainment.
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Jebeh Edmunds
The best teachers know that there is never a time we should stop learning, and Jebeh Edmunds has created a way for all teachers to continue learning how to make classrooms more inclusive. Edmunds uses her YouTube channel to share multicultural book reviews, classroom strategies, and practical tips that lead to inclusivity. She also advocates for cultural competency through her blog and podcast.
All of these teachers have a strong online presence. Figure out how to Bring Your Social Media to the Next Level.
Black Teachers Focused on the System
Deonna Smith
With all the good work teachers do, some steps need to be taken outside the classroom. From her time as a teacher, Deonna Smith saw that improvement required systemic change. Smith has dedicated her career to creating a consultancy practice that works with individual organizations, like schools and businesses, to identify specific areas for growth in inclusivity and to create plans that address problems.
Sharif El-Mekki
Sharif El-Mekki knows that the path to success requires more individuals to be involved in the education field. El-Mekki is carving out space for more diverse teachers through his continued work leading the Center for Black Teachers. From fellowship programs to teaching academies, he is focused on encouraging and empowering young people to step into teaching and help create a path toward educational equity. He also shares his insights through Philly’s 7th Ward blog and the 8 Black Hands podcast.
Carmita Semaan
Many institutes are focused on helping Black teachers, but it is just as important to have Black voices in important leadership positions to help implement change from the top. Thankfully, people like Carmita Semaan, founder of Surge Institute, are paving the way for changing how people reach leadership positions.
Starting with an interest in transforming K-12 urban education, Semaan realized that she could do important work supporting visionary leaders focused on solving systemic issues. She works with leaders to create sustainable change and transform education for the benefit of our youth and communities.
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Thank You For All You Do!
There are so many people to recognize during Black History Month, but let’s make sure to appreciate the Black teachers who dedicate their lives to supporting and improving the lives of the next generation. These teachers are inspirational because they push us all to work harder toward equity and inclusivity. On top of all the work they do for their students, they take the time to share their insights with others through their platforms. Thank you to all the teachers out there who are making a difference that will shape the future.
This article was written by Emily Finnell
