Building the Black Educator Pipeline

Educator, activist and all-around thought leader Jason B. Allen joins the show to discuss the importance of hearing and seeing Black men in education. 

Jason shares his journey to becoming an educator and what led him to found Educational Entities, which helps share, develop, and create stories that educate. He also discusses his podcast 'Speak Black Man'.

The full conversation touches on the erasure of the voices and presence of Black men in the education space, strategies for recruiting more Black teachers, and how public education interacts with the Black community. To close, Host Shayna Terrell gives space to Jason to #ThankABlackTeacher and touch on the importance of Black History Month. 

Dr. Martin Ryder 

A Philadelphia native, Dr. Martin Ryder worked forty-three years on behalf of children and their families.  His career included work at all levels of education from high school mathematics teacher to college administrator. His job titles include Rollins College and Norfolk State University department chairman, education administrator, and trainer, Executive Director of the Mid-Atlantic Network of National Teacher Corps, and his final position as the Chief Executive Officer of World Communications Charter School.

Janet Hammond Ryder

In addition to serving as a teacher in the Philadelphia School District, Janet also worked for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT), PA Federation of Teachers, and finally, The United Way of Southeastern PA and the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO. In those positions, she held progressively responsible roles including; legal services administrator, political director, and Vice President of Community Services. While serving as a political director she held the distinction of being the first African American and woman to serve as a lobbyist and political director for that union.

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.

Dr. Greg Carr, Associate Professor at Howard University, and host of "In Class with Carr" joins host Shayna Terrell to drop some knowledge on the actual history of "Black History Month."

Dr. Carr speaks on the importance of elevating and preserving Black History and on the events taking place in Florida (and around the country) where Black history and teaching truth seem to be under attack. Shayna and Dr. Carr discuss Critical Race Theory, Black Queer Studies, and Intersectionality and how these topics are now seen as "indoctrination" by those on the right. 

Finally, the episode touches on the term "woke," and how we can move beyond the basic narratives and tropes that get trotted out every Black History Month. 

(5:00- 28:40) How they got into education

(28:45-46:00) Bridging the gap between old and new school

(46:00- 1:00:02) Freedom and saying ‘gay’ in black spaces

(1:00:02 - 1:16:00) Being fearless and authentic

(1:16:30 - 23:00) What should be done after BMEC

(0:30- 8:00) Jordan Harris and Tomás Hanna share who they are and why they do the work

(8:15- 9:15) Marriage between education and politics

(9:15-10:30) Sometimes people don’t want us to be Black

(10:37 - 14:40) How do we attract youth to the profession

(14:45 - 21:00) Getting the bag and teaching

(21:00- 23:50) The tough days on the job and the joy

(23:50 - 30:30) Teachers in the neighborhood

(30:30- 34:40) The work of paraprofessionals and where they fit

(34:40-41:40) School funding and legislation

(41:40-45:50) Priorities for the legislative session

(41:40-55:50) Jordan Harris and Tomás Hanna thank their black teachers

Social Handles

Twitter: @TomasNHanna 

Instagram: @thanna65

Twitter and IG: @RepHarris

(1:00- 6:48) Who is Dr. Maulana Karenga past and present?

(6:52-8:11) What is pan-Africanism?

(8:11-18:00) What inspired Dr. Karenga to be an educator

(18:24 - 25:40) Using education for collective liberation/freedom and following the ancestors

(25:45 - 39:40) What is Kwanzaa? And why did Dr. Karenga create it?

(39:40- 42:50) When the haters say Kwanzaa is a “made-up holiday”

(42:50 - 50:40) What does Kwanzaa mean to the African diaspora

(50:40- 59:44) How can educators incorporate principles of Kwanzaa in school curriculum and activities

(59:44-1:03:00) Dr. Karenga thanks Black teachers

(1:00- 8:00) Amanda shares her life story and how her parents are at the core of why she does the work

(8:10-15:30) Amanda talks about the work of Latinos for Education and why she saw the need to create a pathway for Latino leadership in school administration

(15:50-18:00) Shayna and Amanda talk about the difference between “representing” and “speaking for” the community you belong to

(18:00 - 26:00) Amanda discusses the challenges students and schools face from not having enough Latino representation

(26:00 - 32:30) Shayna and Amanda celebrate Latino educators and the joy and culture they bring to schools and affirm families and students 

(32:30- 39:00) Amanda shares the policy work happening to recruit and retain Latino educators

(39:00 - 48:30) Shayna and Amanda talk about the difference between Latino, Latinx and Hispanic. What it means for Amanda to be white presenting but Latina

(48:30- 54:00) Shayna and Amanda talk about Black and Brown allyship and shared common ancestry