POPULARITY
May 8th was Black Teacher Appreciation Day—a national celebration led by the Center for Black Educator Development to honor the “Dreamkeepers” who educate, empower, and inspire every day. Held during National Teacher Appreciation Week, this year's theme is Radical Well-being, highlighting the urgent need to support the wellness and self-care of Black teachers in and beyond the classroom. Power99 is proud to partner with the Center this month to uplift Black educators and amplify the #WeNeedBlackTeachers movement. Starting at 12:00 AM on May 8th, listeners can visit Power99.com and WDAS FM.com to nominate a teacher who's made a difference in just 99 words or less. Selected educators will receive wellness gifts and be featured on-air and across our platforms. Joining us now is Sharif El-Mekki, CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development, to share how we can all join the movement and why supporting Black teachers is a key to educational equity.
In this episode of the EduMagic Podcast, I sit down with Mimi McKee and Ansharaye Hines from the Center for Black Educator Development to discuss their incredible work in rebuilding the Black teacher pipeline. We dive into why representation in education matters, the profound impact Black educators can have on students, and how the Center is making waves with programs like the Freedom School Literacy Academy and the Black Teacher Pipeline Fellowship.We also explore the history behind the decline of Black educators, their advocacy for policy changes, and ways you can support their mission to create a more diverse and equitable education system.Tune in to learn how this vital work is transforming the future of education!Be sure to visit the Center for Black Educator Development at thecenterblacked.org and follow them on social media to find out how you can get involved.This podcast is part of the Teach Better Podcast Network.
Guest Host Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati gets up close and personal with Loraine Ballard Morrill about her recent trip to Spain. Sharif El-Mekki, Founder and CEO for the Center for Black Educator Development talks about the upcoming #BMEC2024 Conference November 21-23 in Philadelphia. El-Mekki was also the subject of Vanesse's month feature “What is Philadelphia Reading?” https://thecenterblacked.org/professional-learning/black-male-engagement/
As students return to school, Pennsylvania is still facing a dire teacher shortage, and experts say there aren't enough qualified candidates to replace everyone who's quit or moved away. We teamed up with City Cast Philly to unpack the problem, causes, and consequences — plus, share our take on a few potential solutions. **This episode originally published August 28, 2023. We always cite our sources: Check out PA's teacher retention data for yourself, courtesy of Penn State's Center for Education Evaluation and Policy Analysis. Chalkbeat did a great two-part breakdown on the problems and potential solutions. The Learning Policy Institute shared suggestions for how to improve teachers' first years. The Hechinger Report wrote about a couple PR campaigns trying to change public opinion about teaching. The Center for Black Educator Development is based in Philly and does a lot of great work around recruiting teachers of color. Ten years ago, it wasn't uncommon to see 3,000 to 4,000 applicants pop up for a single job listing on PA-educator.net, the PA's main jobs board. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 28th episode: Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Pittsburgh Recovery Walk Airport Corridor Transportation Association Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ansharaye Hines and Mimi McKee of the Center for Black Educator Development discuss how the presence of highly qualified Black teachers supports students' educational success. The Center advocates for educational equity and provides multiple teaching pathways to encourage and support Black high school and university students to become teachers. The post Rebuilding the Black teacher pipeline: Advancing justice and academic outcome first appeared on Ethical Schools.
The “Right2ReadPhilly” Campaign offers support and resources so busy families can do fun things together that are proven to help kids become strong readers. One is promoting The Freedom Schools Alphabet Song – a phonics base song founded by Black teachers at the Freedom Schools movement of the sixty's Civil Rights era. I speak to Dr. Heseung Song, President and CEO of Mighty Engine, Elaine Wells, Founder, Global Thinking Initiatives. She's also a West Philly Reading Captain and Tiny Trekkers Leader. Also joining us is Sharif El-Mekki, Founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development. https://www.right2readphilly.org/https://thecenterblacked.org/
Shine the Light on Sickle Cell is an annual community awareness campaign to celebrate World Sickle Cell Awareness Day on June 19 as proclaimed by the United Nations in 2008 and to advocate for a universal cure. Shine the Light on Sickle Cell is led by a collaborative of 34 nonprofit, community-based organizations in the Northeast United States whose aim is to increase awareness of Sickle Cell Disease and advocate for treatments and better outcomes for individuals with the disease. Learn more at Shine the Light on Sickle Cell. #shinethelightonsicklecell. To tell us more I speak to Zemoria Brandon - Chair of the Shine the Light on Sickle Cell campaign. https://wepsicklecell.org/sinerge/shine-the-light/ http://www.sicklecelldisorder.com/ The “Right2ReadPhilly” Campaign offers support and resources so busy families can do fun things together that are proven to help kids become strong readers. One is promoting The Freedom Schools Alphabet Song – a phonics base song founded by Black teachers at the Freedom Schools movement of the sixty's Civil Rights era. I speak to Dr. Heseung Song, President and CEO of Mighty Engine, Elaine Wells, Founder, Global Thinking Initiatives. She's also a West Philly Reading Captain and Tiny Trekkers Leader. Also joining us is Sharif El-Mekki, Founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development. https://www.right2readphilly.org/https://thecenterblacked.org/ I speak to Media activist and PHILLY TRUCE Cofounder Mazzie Casher (aka Grand Agent) about his new single "Can't Say Love Enough" which has taken the iconic Lift Every Voice and Sing, injected it with the soulful vibes of Philly International session players, and amped it up with beats that slap - hard. Dropping on National Gun Violence Awareness Day (June 7th) to highlight the urgency of the moment, with a chorus that rivals the legendary "What The World Needs Now", a song that defined the Vietnam Era, "Can't Say Love Enough" is set to be the anthem of 2024. http://soulspazm.ffm.to/cantsayloveenough
New laws in at least 14 states are forcing teachers to rethink how they teach history when it comes to race in particular. For the last day of this Black History Month, one education leader on why having more Black teachers, and leaning into Black teaching traditions, can help all students get a better handle on American history. Plus, Axios Miami's Sommer Brugal on the education view from Florida, more than a year and a half since Florida's "Stop WOKE Act" went into effect. Guests: Sharif El-Mekki, founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development and a former school principal; Sommer Brugal, Axios Miami reporter. Credits: 1 big thing is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, and Jay Cowit. Music is composed by Alex Sugiura and Jay Cowit. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can send questions, comments and story ideas as a text or voice memo to Niala at 202-918-4893. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast Shawnee Caruthers is joined by Sharif El-Mekki, Founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development. A proud alum of Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, PA and the former principal of Mastery Charter, Shoemaker Campus, Sharif sees education as activism and teachers as civic leaders. Sharif is also the co-host of the 8 Black Hands podcast. His mantra, “We Need Black Teachers” is more than a rallying cry, but a deep desire to give voice to the over 8 million black learners that need to see themselves in their classrooms and community. Links: Center for Black Educator Development Phillys7thWard 8 Black Hands podcast Teaching Pathways LinkedIn Center for Black Educators 2022 Report Dr. Gregg Carr Fugitive Pedagogy by Dr. Jarvis Givens Education of Black People by W.EB Dubois Speeches to the Youth by Malcolm X Black Teachers on Teaching by Dr. Michelle Foster Dr. Vanessa Siddle Walker Dr. Gholdy Muhammad Dr. Zaretta Hammond
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Black teachers currently account for only seven percent of all public school teachers. This trend is attributed to the achievement and opportunity gaps among Black students. In fact, studies show that having at least one Black teacher reduces a Black student's likelihood of dropping out of school by almost 40 percent. How can we cultivate Black teachers? Why is developing Black teachers especially important for Black students? And how can we better train all teachers to support students regardless of their background. In this episode, Sharif El-Mekki joins Kevin to discuss the importance of developing and recruiting Black teachers.
A record number of Pennsylvania teachers left the profession last school year, and experts say there aren't enough qualified candidates to replace them. City Cast Philly and City Cast Pittsburgh are teaming up to unpack the problem, the causes, the consequences, and a few potential solutions. We always cite our sources: Check out PA's teacher retention data for yourself, courtesy of Penn State's Center for Education Evaluation and Policy Analysis Here's the latest from WHYY on staffing at Philadelphia Public Schools, and from the Post-Gazette on staffing in Pittsburgh Chalkbeat did a great two-part breakdown on the problems and potential solutions The Learning Policy Institute shared suggestions for how to improve teachers' first years The Hechinger Report wrote about a couple PR campaigns trying to change public opinion about teaching The Center for Black Educator Development is based in Philly and does a lot of great work around recruiting teachers of color It's still pretty tough to navigate the licensure process if you're moving state-to-state, but the AP reports some states are trying to ease Ten years ago, it wasn't uncommon to see 3,000 to 4,000 applicants pop up for a single job listing on PA-educator.net, the PA's main jobs board Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh! Not a fan of social? Then leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Radically Pragmatic, a podcast from the Progressive Policy Institute
In part 2 of this two part series, PPI's Reinventing America's Schools (RAS) Project Co-Director Curtis Valentine, in collaboration with EdChoice, sits down for a live panel conversation and podcast recording at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego with Sharif El-Mekki, Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Black Educator Development and Mikyeil El-Mekki, and Matthew Mugo Fields, Executive Leadership of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Learn more about the Reinventing America's Schools Project here. Learn more about the Progressive Policy Institute here. Learn more about EdChoice here.
In part two of a collaboration with RISE Reports podcast and ASU+GSV, Curtis Valentine and panelists, Sharif El-Mekki and Matthew Mugo Fields discuss in detail what schooling, education, and learning look like in the future. In part 2 of this two part series, PPI's Reinventing America's Schools (RAS) Project Co-Director Curtis Valentine, in collaboration with EdChoice, sits down for a live panel conversation and podcast recording at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego with Sharif El-Mekki, Chief Executive Officer at The Center for Black Educator Development, and Matthew Mugo Fields, General Manager of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, HMH and President of Heinemann Publishing. They discuss the future of education, the future of teaching, and importance of school choice for families across America. https://open.spotify.com/episode/6hYnqceWTkaZMoIBV7eXVN?si=Zi8s8D4ZTr61zXzc3QiYDw&nd=1
Show DescriptionWelcome to Dreaming in Color, a show hosted by Darren Isom, a partner with The Bridgespan Group, that provides a space for social change leaders of color to reflect on how their life experiences, personal and professional, have prepared them to lead and drive the impact we all seek. In this episode, we speak with Sharif El-Mekki, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Black Educator Development, which is working to revolutionize education by dramatically increasing the number of Black educators to better reflect the students they serve, ensuring teaching practices unleash the power of diverse cultural insights and anti-discriminatory mindsets, and liberating education policy from constraints–real and imagined. Join this conversation as Sharif guides us through the journey of how his Masjid and African Free School education served as the catalyst for his distinguished teaching career and activist for education justice. Jump Straight Into(0:28) Introduction of Sharif El-Mekki, Founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development.(0:57) Sharif shares inspiring thoughts from the Grammy-nominated poet, Amir Sulaiman: “we are all going to be ancestors someday, act accordingly.” (5:23) Sharif recalls his anti-racist and pro-black schooling and how that impacted his development of pedagogies that promote positive racial identity development.(6:44) Sharif reflects on words from Dr. Alfred Tatum on the notion of students becoming proficient vs. advanced in subject matter. (9:52) Sharif explores how activism and education go hand-in-hand: “every lesson plan you write is a political document and every time you teach.” (16:14) Reflecting on the idea of Intellectual genealogy and being able to trace back your school of thought to its source and using that as a framework to change the narrative. (20:51) Sharif recalls how a traumatic incident inspired him to change his path from lawyer to educator. (28:34) Sharif tells us about how his Islamic faith and its focus on reading, understanding, and study serves as a framework for inspiring his work Episode ResourcesConnect with Sharif through LinkedInKeep up with Sharif on TwitterLearn more about Sharif's work at the Center for Black Educator DevelopmentListen to Sharif's talk for The Moth, “Afros, Boxers, Handcuffs, and Guns”Read Bridgespan's article for SSIR, “What Everyone Can Learn From Leaders of Color”Read Sharif's recent articles in Education Week and the Philadelphia InquirerWatch Sharif's TED Talk on “Reviving the Legacy of the Black teaching tradition”
As Women's History Month comes to a close, we return to a powerful throwback episode of Building the Black Educator Pipeline with activist Ericka Huggins and Sharif El-Mekki, CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development.Ericka Huggins educates us on the role women played in the Black Panther movement and shares about her leadership role in the party. Sharif El-Mekki talks about his earliest memories recognizing that he was a "cub" in the movement and talks about life as the son of a Panther.The rest of the powerful conversation talks about the importance of education to the Black Panther party, and the parallels between community education of the time, black liberation schools, and more recent examples of Black independent schools.
We are joined today by Dr. Elizabeth Todd-Breland, author of A Political Education: Black Politics and Education Reform in Chicago Since the 1960s, and Associate Professor of History in Black Studies at the University of Illinois Chicago! We talk about the politics of education and building the Black educator pipeline.Dr. Todd-Breland tells us all about her educational journey and helps break down the ties between politics and the education field. The conversation touches on educational inequities and how a child's zip code is tied to their quality of education.Host Shayna Terrell of the Center for Black Educator Development and Dr. Todd-Breland discuss the role of Black leadership in education reform and whether Black liberation can be a priority in a reform movement. Finally, the discussion focuses on Women's History Month and the role of higher ed in developing K-12 schools.
Karen speaks with Master Teacher, Sharif El-Mekki, the CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development, which he founded to create a national pipeline to attract, develop, support and empower Black teachers to help Black children liberate themselves, their families, and ultimately, society. As the son of two Black Panther Party members and the cousin of two more, Sharif had a strong desire to address issues relating to social and racial justice, equity, and educational opportunities.JOIN KNARRATIVE: https://www.knarrative.com it's the only way to get into #Knubia, where these classes are held live with a live chat.To shop Go to:TheGlobalMajoritySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dr. Ifetayo Flannery, Assistant Professor and Chair of Undergrad Chair of Africology and African American Studies at Temple University helps us better understand the difference between Africology and African American Studies.Dr. Flannery talks about how Africana Studies changed her perspective of herself and the world and how it can be applied to K-12 education. Host Shayna Terrell of the Center for Black Educator Development asks Dr. Flannery to share the impact African American studies can have on young students, especially Black children. The conversation touches on how to best incorporate Black studies into curriculum and resistance to teaching Black studies. The episode also covers Black psychology, the term "Black" when referring to the African diaspora, and more.
2016 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Abdul Wright joins the podcast and shares what motivated him to get into education and how the journey has been. Mr. Wright shares how he incorporates Black History into the classroom during Black History Month and all year round and what we can learn from the legacy and foundation of our ancestors. The conversation also touches on how schools and educators can make Black History more engaging for students. Host Shayna Terrell (Center for Black Educator Development) and Mr. Wright discuss the need for more Black male teachers and how we can get more of them into the profession. Mr. Wright discusses how it felt to be named Minnesota Teacher of the Year and what that experience was like.
Host Jonathan Santos Silva speaks with leaders and educators from Brothers Liberating Our Communities (BLOC) in Kansas City, Missouri, about making teaching a sustainable career for Black men. Inspired by the work of Sharif El-Mekki from the Center for Black Educator Development (featured in Episode 201), BLOC began curating professional development specifically for Black men in education. Through connection, development, and engagement, the team has retained 100% of BLOC members. Founder Cornell Ellis and the team at BLOC hope that one day all students will have access to equal representation and revolutionary Black male educators. Changing Course is a podcast from Teach For America's One Day Studio.
Sharif El-Mekki, CEO of The Center for Black Educator Development, joins us to discuss the evolution of The Center, the quest to rebuild the Black teacher pipeline, and the state of education.
Host Jonathan Santos Silva speaks with leaders and educators from The Center for Black Educator Development in Philadelphia, PA, about how to create safe spaces that value and invest in young Black leaders. The Center is the first teaching academy in Philadelphia dedicated to investing in the next generation of Black teachers, starting as early as high school. Guided by the lens that excellent education is a political act, Sharif El-Mekki and his team at the Center demonstrate how restoring education to disenfranchised students is the purest form of activism. Changing Course is a podcast from Teach For America's One Day Studio.
Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz joins us live from The Center for Black Educator Development's 13th Annual Black Male Educators Convening to discuss the power of education, community sovereignty, and controlling our own narratives.
In this episode, we unpack the Black Male Educators Conference also known as BMEC 2022. BMEC is a convening with over 1000 Black make educators brought to us by Sharif El-Mekki and his team at the Center for Black Educator Development. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/8-black-hands-podcast/message
In conversation with Edwin Mayorga and Sharif El-Mekki For 20 years Camika Royal was a middle and high school teacher and a teaching coach for her fellow educators in Baltimore, Washington, DC, and her hometown of Philadelphia. Currently an associate professor of urban education at Loyola University Maryland, she examines the racial, historical, and sociopolitical contexts of school reform ideologies, policies, and practices. A sought-after speaker and education consultant, she taught at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania and other colleges and universities in the Philadelphia and Baltimore areas. Associate Professor in Swarthmore College's Department of Educational Studies and the Program in Latin American and Latino Studies, Edwin Mayorga is the founder of the Education in Our Barrios Project (BarrioEdProject) research study and after school club, and the Philadelphia Community, School and College Partnership Research Project. The co-editor of What's Race Got to do With It?: How Current School Reform Policy Maintains Racial and Economic Equality, he is the recipient of several research grants and fellowships. The Director of the Center for Black Educator Development, Sharif El-Mekki has served as an administrator and teacher in Philadelphia schools for nearly three decades. The co-creator of The Fellowship-Black Male Educators for Social Justice, he was a 2013 U.S. Department of Education Principal Fellow Ambassador and an America Achieves Fellow. His other projects include Philly's 7th Ward blog and the 8 Black Hands podcast. (recorded 9/28/2022)
Sharif El-Mekki: intentionality in developing black educators — Many individuals matriculate through their formative years in K-12 education without having an African American teacher. This is a problem for multiple reasons. Listen to Ramona's conversation with Sharif El-Mekki as they discuss why there are so few African American teachers and what communities must do to intentionally attract them to the profession. The Center for Black Education Development is dedicated to this mission. Sharif shares strategies that the Center has implemented to address this challenge, among them public policy, professional learning and pathways. The charge is simple: #weneedblackteachers. Former Principal and Teacher, Sharif El-Mekki is the Founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development. A native of Philadelphia, he continues to make the city his home. To learn more about Sharif El-Mekki and the Center for Black Educator Development, visit http://thecenterblacked.org.
Resident Baba Dr. Greg Carr, Associate Professor at Howard University and host of "In Class with Carr", rejoins the show to talk about the Constitutional fight for quality education and the work Junior Servant Leaders are doing within that fight.Host Shayna Terrell of the Center for Black Educator Development and Dr. Carr begin the episode by defining what "a quality education" is and looks like in practice and whether or not it is actually a constitutional right.They discuss the themes of equality, equity and the historic distribution of educational resources in the United States and what it has meant in Public education.Finally, Shayna and Dr. Carr spend some time discussing the role of teaching as service, anti-racism in education and the future of quality education as a constitutional right.
Welcome back to another episode of the #squarepizzapod. This week's episode is a little different from the rest. This particular episode is a special mash-up of recent guests sharing what square pizza reminds them of. Sometimes square pizza reminds you of nothing so it actually makes you think of something, or maybe it reminds you of a book, or times with friends at school. In our eyes, square pizza day was the best day of the week as it was for others. We hope you enjoy this episode!Guest featured in this episode: #81 - Abi Olukeye, Smart Girls HQ, Founder + CEO#18 - Munro Richardson, Read Charlotte#52 - Sharif El-Mekki, Center for Black Educator Development#60 - Nicole Jarbo, CEO of Goodbets Group#66 - Dan Lugo, President, Queens University of Charlotte#69 - Fidel Vargas, President & CEO, Hispanic Scholarship Fund#76 - Reyna Montoya, Founder, CEO, and Board Member, Aliento#82 - Brittany Young, Founder + CEO, B-360Support the show
Christian Sabree and Maleah Thomas-Thornton, future black educators and servant leader apprentices at the Center for Black Educator Development join the Building the Black Educator Pipeline Podcast to discuss the journey to becoming an educator. Christian and Maleah share with host Shayna Terrell about their inspiration to become educators and their experience with freedom schools. They also discuss working as servant leader apprentices at the Center for Black Educator Development and the impact it has had on them. Finally, the conversation touches on the overall importance of recruiting more Black educators, the impact that they have on students, and why we desperately need more of them.
Now more than ever, having Black Leaders in education who can be competent change agents in our communities is crucial! Dr. William Hayes, CEO of Boys Latin Charters Schools, joins the show to discuss the current state of education and the importance of Black educational leadership.Dr. William Hayes is the Chief Executive Officer of Boys' Latin of Philadelphia an all-male college preparatory network of two schools in West Philadelphia. He began his career in education in Boston, Massachusetts as a teacher, college counselor, and assistant principal. He went on to serve as a Pre-K to 8th grade turnaround principal in Cleveland Ohio and then transitioned to become a founding principal of both a middle and a high school in Camden, New Jersey. Dr. Hayes holds a bachelor's of science in psychology from Morehouse College, a master's in education from Harvard University, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University. He is a native of small town Hartsville, SC and an advocate for equitable access and opportunity for students of color.
Sharif El-Mekki is the Founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development. The Center exists to ensure there will be equity in the recruiting, training, hiring, and retention of quality educators that reflect the cultural backgrounds and share common socio-political interests of the students they serve. The Center is developing a nationally relevant model to measurably increase teacher diversity and support Black educators through four pillars: Professional Learning, Pipeline, Policies, and Pedagogy. So far, the Center has developed ongoing and direct professional learning, mentoring, and coaching opportunities for Black teachers and other educators serving students of color. The Center also carries forth the freedom or liberation school legacy by hosting Freedom School sites that incorporates research-based curricula and exposes high school and college students to the teaching profession to help fuel a pipeline of Black educators. Prior to founding the Center, El-Mekki served as a nationally recognized principal and U.S. Department of Education Principal Ambassador Fellow. His school, Mastery Charter Shoemaker, was recognized by President Obama and Oprah Winfrey, and was awarded the prestigious EPIC award for three consecutive years as being amongst the top three schools in the country for accelerating students' achievement levels. The Shoemaker Campus was also recognized as one of the top ten middle school and top ten high schools in the state of Pennsylvania for accelerating the achievement levels of African-American students. In 2014, El-Mekki founded The Fellowship – Black Male Educators for Social Justice, an organization dedicated to recruiting, retaining, and developing Black male teachers. El-Mekki blogs on Phillys7thWard, is a member of the 8 Black Hands podcast and serves on several boards and committees focused on educational and racial justice.
Host Shayna Terrell of the Center for Black Educator Development speaks with Maisha Sullivan-Ongoza about the role that Black mothers have historically played and continue to play in organizing and achieving societal change.Maisha retired in 2014 from the Philadelphia Chapter of Say Yes to Education, Inc, which served as a Family Scholarship program and has served as adjunct professor at various universities in the Delaware Valley. She was also a popular radio talk show host for six years of “Fertile Ground” which focused on African American and African diaspora culture, history, communities and struggles. She previously served as a Director within the Rendell mayoral administration in Philadelphia, PA, as part of the Mayor's Children and Families Cabinet. UPDATE: You can now catch Building the Black Educator Pipeline on your preferred podcast platform. Make sure to follow the show leave a review if you value these important conversations.
Today's guests: Ansharaye Hines is the Program Coordinator for Liberation Academy at The Center for Black Educator Development, a multi-year program that provides high school students with an intellectually rigorous, collaborative environment designed to foster a love for educating, personal and professional character development, and a strong foundation for pursuing long-term careers in education.Brandon White is a former middle school ELA teacher and Restorative Practices educator for the Rochester City School District. In addition to providing these elements via traditional school settings, for seven years he was a servant leader intern and site coordinator for Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools Summer Literacy Programs located in Rochester. Currently as an ELA specialist for UnboundEd, Brandon selects, adapts, and sequences open educational resources, as well as supports the creation of professional development materials and resources that promote grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful instruction.
Resident Baba Dr. Greg Carr, Associate Professor of Africana Studies and Chair of the Department of Afro-American Studies at Howard University, returns for our special re-launch episode. Host Shayna Terrell and Dr. Carr dive into Teacher Appreciation Week, with an eye toward Black educators and the need to uplift their work and let them know they are appreciated.Dr. Carr gives some historical context to the plight of the Black teacher, and Shayna shares the #ThankABlackTeacher and #WeNeedBlackTeachers campaigns that the Center for Black Educator Development are running.
We celebrate City Year, a national service program to unite young adults from diverse backgrounds for a demanding year of full-time community service. I speak to Darryl Bundrige Executive Director and Vice President, City Year Philadelphia. I also talk with Sharif El-Mekki Founder and CEO, Center for Black Educator Development who will be honored at City Year's Red Jacket Gala on May 5, at The Fillmorewww.cityyear.org/philadelphiawww.thecenterblacked.orgIn four Years, we will be marking the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. PHILADELPHIA250 is the nonprofit designated by The City of Philadelphia to coordinate a people-powered, citywide, 250th commemoration in Philadelphia. I speak to Executive Director Danielle DiLeo Kim about how far Philadelphia and the country have come toward creating freedom and equality for all. It is also a time to recognize the injustices and challenges Philadelphians face every day and work together to create a stronger and more equitable city for all. A cornerstone program to Philadelphia 250'scommemoration is their public call, “Leave a Legacy” that asks Philadelphians to submit ideas or projects they're currently working on that aspire to strengthen our City's neighborhoods. They encourage all who are interested in learning more about the Leave a Legacy public call to visit our www.philadelphia250.us/leave-a-legacy www.philadelphia250.usPHILLY TRUCE DAY Culture Carnival combines entertainment and opportunities, resources, and inspiration - all designed to keep Philly's youth safe and successful this summer and beyond. I speak to Atlas X from Philly Power Platform and Philly Truce who talks about PHILLY TRUCE DAY Saturday May 7th at Lighthouse Field 101 E. Erie Ave. 12 noon until.https://phillytruce.com/latest_news
Have you ever asked your child, your student, your employee, your organization, your customer…. How do you experience our leadership? How do you experience this policy? How do you experience me as a parent? And what would you like to experience? In this episode, Shariff shares examples and stories as to how to shift dynamics in communication in teacher-student, parent-child, leader-employee or any type of relationship through the exchange of feedback around what has been experienced. Listening in this way can lead to a deeper understanding of the situation, more impactful decisions and an overall shift in mindset allowing for all voices to be heard. He also talks about how to ask powerful questions that not only connect the dots and dig deep, but also help move us into action, paving the way for creative problem-solving for a better, more just and fulfilling future. Sharif El-Mekki is the Founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development. The Center exists to ensure equity in the recruiting, training, hiring, and retention of quality educators that reflect the cultural backgrounds and share common socio-political interests of the students they serve. The Center is developing a nationally relevant model to measurably increase teacher diversity and support Black educators through four pillars: Professional Learning, Pipeline, Policies, and Pedagogy. So far, the Center has developed ongoing and direct professional learning, mentoring, and coaching opportunities for Black teachers and other educators serving students of color. Whether you are a teacher, a parent or a leader, this episode is full of practical examples that can support all of us in shaping an inclusive and just world where all voices are listened to and acted upon. "If we listen to hear, listen to understand, and listen to learn, that's a different way to lead. And ultimately, that is a mindset that can help us march towards a path that's far more just." - Sharif El-Mekki Listen IN Notes: 02:32 - What we should pay attention to Thinking time, reflection time. 03:11 - The kinds of questions we need to ask children to allow them to build their own paradigms 08:52 - Helping human beings develop empathy: 'Managing themselves' is also understanding others, as well. 10:20 - A story of impacting the community, organization, and school by listening to student voices. 13:24 - Crucial to establish the organization, continue to grow, and improve: working in the community with each other, sharing thoughts, sharing ideas, and giving collective feedback. 14:11 - Being seen, heard, and listened to as your authentic self: They interviewed 100 black teachers, and collaborated around a report based on the feedback. The report, “Who We Are”, helped with retention efforts of black educators in the United States. They're more likely to stay if they have a culture that's affirming, with leadership that is committed to racial justice. 23:35 - Reflecting back: As we develop educators, cultural competence is important but even more important is cultural proficiency. 28:48 - Communicating by listening through feedback 37:04 - A moment of significant change: Being invited into the profession [teaching] and really seeing the connection between educational justice, racial justice, and social justice. 41:57 - Listening to justice: If we're really seeking justice, then we are going to make sure that we're listening, we're hearing, we're seeing folks who are aggrieved by our leadership, from our policies, from our procedures, from the culture that's been established. 43:33 - Mustering and practicing the courage to listen: It can start small, asking people for feedback. A lot of things can actually be practiced with your inner circle, spaces you feel safe and brave. 55:58 - Having a just system for trust and listening to thrive and brave spaces created: It's around setting goals, being transparent, and acknowledging their experience. 56:16 - What a 'lift and climb concept' looks like 01:02:51 - Looking at human beings, regardless if they're immigrants or refugees as owners of their destiny, not as change agents. Key Takeaways: "I sometimes think out of frustration; we just want to solve the problem. We want to address whatever the child was experiencing and how it manifested, like an inappropriate response. And that's very likely true at that moment. But we also have to be curious about what are the other things that occurred." - Sharif El-Mekki "When we're talking about building communities, and classrooms, and schools, and neighborhoods and recreation centers – it's about community. How do we work together? How do we spend time together? How do we interact with each other? All of those can inform our values…and can help us improve ourselves as well as our general interactions with others." - Sharif El-Mekki "What they (human beings) want from their leadership is a commitment to improving transparency, support, and receptivity to feedback." - Sharif El-Mekki "One of the tenets of our work is, we're not just pushing into schools, and teaching a course, teaching one on one look but we're also engaging high school youth to be part of the solution." - Sharif El-Mekki "My mother is my first teacher, and I love to quote about what she said, “Something precedes peace. And it's justice. If you want peace, fight for justice, because justice will surely give birth to peace.”" - Sharif El-Mekki "Listening, with actual hearing, can support justice, because the people, the aggrieved, can share how they're experiencing things." - Sharif El-Mekki Notes/Mentions: Zora Neale Hurston: https://www.zoranealehurston.com/about/ Mary Church Terrell: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Church_Terrell Frederick Douglass: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Douglass Connect with Sharif El-Mekki: Website: https://phillys7thward.org/# Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/8-black-hands/id1471646189 Connect with Raquel Ark: www.listeningalchemy.com Mobile: + 491732340722 contact@listeningalchemy.com LinkedIn
Sharif El-Mekki is the founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development, which is focused on revolutionizing education by dramatically increasing the number of Black educators. “People are naive enough to think that once you enter a school, racial bias disappears,” says El-Mekki. “If a Black child has a Black teacher, they have a higher sense of belonging, they're less likely to be suspended or expelled. They have more access to rigorous courses, higher attendance, better grades.” El-Mekki sees the work as a form of activism. “Educational justice and racial justice are connected and cannot be separated,” he stresses. Join us to learn more about a truly different approach to equity in the classroom and beyond.This episode is part of Add Passion and Stir's ongoing series Rebuilding which connects with leaders from across media, restaurants, education, government, and beyond to learn they're reimagining and redesigning their industries to make sure everyone feels a sense of belonging.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In the Philadelphia School District, most of the students are Black or Brown -- yet few students see teachers that look like them at the front of the classroom. So why aren't there more Black teachers? Sharif El-Mekki, a former Philadelphia school teacher and principal and the Founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development, and Mimi Woldeyohannes, the Center's Director of Strategic Partnerships join KYW Newsradio in Depth to talk about the national effort to recruit young Black people to think about teaching as a profession and highlight the impact teachers can make on students. Find out more here: https://www.thecenterblacked.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development, Sharif El-Mekki, joins us for an informative discussion on the expectations held by educators for young black people. The Center for Black Educator Development exists to ensure there will be equity in the recruiting, training, hiring, and retention of quality educators that reflect the cultural backgrounds and share common socio-political interests of the students they serve. Prior to founding the Center, Sharif served as a nationally recognized principal and U.S. Department of Education Principal Ambassador Fellow. His school, Mastery Charter Shoemaker, was recognized by President Obama and Oprah Winfrey, and was awarded the prestigious EPIC award for three consecutive years as being amongst the top three schools in the country for accelerating students' achievement levels. Sharif blogs on Phillys7thWard, is a member of the 8 Black Hands podcast and serves on several boards and committees focused on educational and racial justice. Tune in on Wednesday, August 18th @ 5pm EST to this broadcast!
In the first episode of Season 2 of the Beyond Basketball Podcast, Seth and Kenny speak with Sharif El-Mekki, West Philadelphia native and Founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development. The purpose of the Center for Black Educator Development is to ensure the equity in the recruiting, training, hiring, and retention of quality educators from similar backgrounds and socio-political interests to the students they serve. The group discusses black educators, the importance of diversity in the workplace, deliberate acts towards equity, having a collective sense of accountability towards action, and many more important topics.
What makes one person more powerful than another? We constantly compare ourselves to others, often concluding that they have it much better than we do. We spend much of life idolizing people and, in the process, give them power over us. Yet, what's lost here is the stark truth that other people have just as many insecurities and problems as we do and we probably would do better to focus on ourselves and to recognize the power we have to make the world better. Emir Davis, Director of Black Male Engagement at the Center for Black Educator Development, joins Dan and Steve Fouts in a conversation about power in all its forms and why we are so quick to give it to others, or keep it for ourselves. ------------------------------- Alice Walker speaks Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/75496946@N00/1479303458/ Author: Virginia DeBolt License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en
As Emmanuel continues to uplift Black stories, this week's episode is all about supporting Black teachers. Note: there was a word omission in the initial version that has since been corrected: HBCUs are responsible for 1/3 of BLACK teacher candidates, not all. Plenty of show notes below: Joyful Noise: D'Angelo: I Found My Smile Again Increase Your Lexicon: "Bombast" (n) Support No Wednesday via Patreon and the No Wednesday Store. Cashapp: $itsdrlittle Interlude song (snippet) prod. by Masala Man, performed by yours truly Sources: James Baldwin's "A Talk To Teachers" https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/baldwin-talk-to-teachers NCES statistics https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2020/2020142.pdf Hidden History of Integration (via the NEA) https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/hidden-history-integration-and-shortage-teachers-color Book - A Class of Their Own: Black Teachers in the Segregated South (Fairclough, 2007): https://www.amazon.com/Class-Their-Own-Teachers-Segregated/dp/0674023072 School to Prison Pipeline: https://www.aclu.org/issues/juvenile-justice/school-prison-pipeline Students of all races prefer a teacher of color https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/10/07/496717541/study-finds-students-of-all-races-prefer-teachers-of-color PUSHOUT: https://pushoutfilm.com/ Center for Black Educator Development: https://www.thecenterblacked.org/ Call Me MiSTER program (at Georgia College) https://www.gcsu.edu/education/call-me-mister-college-of-education National Call Me MiSTER headquarters: https://www.clemson.edu/education/programs/programs/call-me-mister.html “Misogynoir”, as coined by Dr. Moya Bailey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogynoir Teachers of Color and Exams https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-we-need-more-teachers-of-color-lets-scrap-exams-that-keep-them-out-of-the-classroom/2019/05 The Black Teacher Project https://www.blackteacherproject.org/ Dr. Bettina Love (abolitionist teaching) https://bettinalove.com/ Profound Gentlemen https://www.profoundgentlemen.org/ Black Male Educators Talk (BMEsTalk) https://bmestalk.com/ Emmanuel's Dissertation about the topic: https://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/little_clifford_e_201812_phd.pdf --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nowednesdaypod/support
For many of our students, the teacher who stands before them each day doesn't look like them or have any similar lived experiences. Sharif El-Mekki, founder and CEO of The Center for Black Educator Development, is looking to change all that and build a #BlackTeacherPipeline. Thanks for joining us today on Focus on K-12, EdTech and The Education Experience. If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe. If you have any ideas for future guests or you'd like to contact us about the show, please reach out to me on Twitter @dkonopelko. Thanks for tuning in and we will see you next time, as we Focus on K-12. Links to Resources from the Show: Video Podcast
Sharif El-Mekki is a celebrated teacher and respected member of his community. He is the CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development and along the path of his career, he has held positions as a teacher, principal, and administrator. While he personally has not pursued National Board Certification in his long career, Sharif is a huge supporter of the process and promotes certification throughout his community. He is a valued partner of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and currently sits on their board of directors. In this episode, we will discuss how the National Board certification is helping to champion equity and equality within the education system. We explore why it is essential for teachers to be mindful and ensure they are offering their students an equitable education. We unpack why it is important to certify and how the National Board Certification is beneficial for creating an enhanced and considered education for students.
— Paulo Freire“Learning is a process where knowledge is presented to us, then shaped through understanding, discussion, and reflection.” Sharif is the CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development and former principal of Mastery Charter Schools - Shoemaker Campus, a neighborhood turnaround school in West Philadelphia. He is recognized by former students, their families, and the community as a consistent Freedom Fighter, agitator, and partner. On July 8th, Sharif gave his keynote at the National Network of State Teachers of the Year's Teacher Leadership Conference titled, “Liberating Education” where Sharif challenged educators to be intentional in our pedagogy to include Black and Brown pedagogy and rethinking teaching programs to better prepare teachers (especially white educators) to better engage with Black and Brown Students. This the third episode of a five-part series. You will hear from the speakers themselves who will help us dive deeper into their message. Throughout this series, I am joined by the 2018 Virginia State Teacher of the Year, Michelle Cottrell-Williams. Michelle is going to help me unpack the takeaways of these educational leaders who's message will take us beyond the curriculum. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beyondthecurriculum/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beyondthecurriculum/support
Mario Shaw, Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer of Profound Gentlemen, sat down with Sharif El-Mekki, CEO of The Center for Black Educator Development, to discuss the importance of teacher diversity and creating equitable spaces for educators of color. Extraordinary is produced by Samantha Williams and her team at the Robertson Center, with production by Stephen LaRosa and Joseph Fridman of Wonder Boy Audio. Hosting and editing by Joseph Fridman. Original composition and mixing by Stephen LaRosa.