Celebrate Black History Month!

February is Black History Month, a time to learn about and celebrate Black History. During this month educators should think about how they are currently teaching Black History and how they can improve these lessons. ISTE shared some great tips to help educators improve the way they teach Black History, not just in February but all year long! They advise teaching through Black voices, highlighting the achievements of Black people, centering Black perspectives, and honoring Black humanity. I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the achievements of 5 past and current influential Black educators.

1. Edmund Gordon
   Edmund Gordon, EdD, dedicated his career to improving educational opportunities for low-income families. He founded both the federal Head Start program and the Institute of Urban Education at Columbia University’s Teachers College. He was one of the first educators to focus on closing the academic achievement gap. 
2. Rita Pierson
   Rita Pierson followed in both her parent’s and grandparents’ footsteps by becoming an educator. She taught elementary, junior high, and special education and spent time working as a counselor, a testing coordinator, and an assistant principal. She conducted professional development seminars and workshops for educators focusing on students who are too often underserved. Watch her TED Talk on why every kid needs a champion.
3. Principal Kafele
   Principal Baruti Kafele is a highly regarded educator, author, and transformational school leader from New Jersey. He is currently one of America's most sought-after school leadership and classroom presenters. He’s delivered over 2,000 conference and program keynotes, professional development workshops, parenting seminars, and student assemblies over his 34 years of public speaking focusing on his expertise in attitude transformation. 
4. Fanny Jackson Coppin
   Fanny Jackson Coppin was an American educator, missionary, and lifelong advocate for equal access to education. Born a slave, she defied the odds and attended Rhode Island State Normal School and Oberlin College. There she became the first Black student chosen to be a pupil-teacher. Just 4 years after graduating she became the head principal at the Institute for Colored Youth. For the remainder of her career, she fought for her students and inspired them to become more than they ever thought they could. 
5. Joe Truss
   Joe Truss is a middle school principal in San Francisco, speaker, racial equity coach, antiracist professional development leader, and consultant. His vast experience of working with public K-12 students, specifically serving low-income, immigrant, and students of color, provides him insight into effective tools for school transformation and leadership support. He founded Truss Leadership- Racial Equity Consulting where he conducts antiracist/anti-bias training for staff, strategic planning with leadership teams, and 1 on 1 coaching of leaders.

There are so many more inspiring individuals who have changed or are working to change the lives of future generations. Now more than ever it’s important to listen and learn from people who have different life experiences. You should amplify the voices of Black educators all year round, not just in February. 

How can you celebrate the Black educators at your school with SchoolInfo's services? Highlight your educators’ achievements through push notifications so your community can celebrate these individuals together. You can also share their stories, with their permission of course, across all of your social media pages from your dashboard.

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