Teachers are Earth's Mightiest Superheroes and their stories can inspire generations. The Black Educators Matter: Project 500 Podcast is on a journey to share the stories of 500 Black educators. Why? Research shows that Black students who have even one Black teacher are more likely to graduate, attend college, and see themselves reflected in positions of leadership. White students also benefit from learning from a diverse teaching force. This podcast is necessary because storytelling is the…
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Education begins with collaboration. Ms. Shana Asby shares her nontraditional journey from mentor and advocate to founder of Mosaic TEAL School, a microschool designed to better serve neurodivergent Black and Brown learners. Inspired by her own educational experiences and her journey as a parent, Shana reflects on the challenges Black educators face, including burnout, low pay, and having their…
“I want students to feel seen, safe, and empowered to be themselves.” Dr. Shannon Jones reflects on her journey from aspiring physician to immunology professor and researcher. Inspired by her father, a Black math teacher and coach who dedicated more than 30 years to under-resourced schools, and by mentors who encouraged her to pursue research, Dr. Jones shares how she overcame culture shock and…
Whitney Whiting-Gonzalez Interim Director of Partner Programs Black educators provide the validation, care, and guidance that many students cannot find anywhere else. In this episode, Whitney Whiting-Gonzalez shares her journey from aspiring Wall Street professional to educator and mentor advocate. A proud Bronx native, Whitney reflects on how witnessing the realities of the financial industry…
Kenneth Brown, Jr Administrator, University Center for Access and Success Black educators have always been innovators, storytellers, and builders of community. Kenneth Brown, Jr is an administrator with the Center for Access and Success. This week, he shares his journey into higher education and his passion for supporting first-generation college students. Inspired by his mother, a preschool…
“Culture must be supported by structure…” Cheryl-Lyn Bentley-Harmon Principal of Bentley Harmon PLLC, Former High School Teacher https://www.harmoncompliancesolutions.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-lyn-bentley-harmon/ Black educators matter—but supporting and retaining them requires more than recruitment. How has your life changed since 2020? In this special follow-up episode,…
Dr. Matthew Oware Professor I Got Something to Say: Gender, Race, and Social Consciousness in Rap Music https://www.palgrave.com/us/book/9783319904535 “Seeing Black excellence in the classroom changed what I believed was possible for my own life.” In this episode, sociologist and University of Richmond professor Matthew Oware reflects on his journey from Chicago’s South Side to higher education.…
“ Black educators help students see what’s possible. ” In this episode, Philadelphia second-grade teacher Jael Ferguson shares her nontraditional journey into education, leaving a toxic office job to pursue her calling through a teacher residency program. Inspired by mentors and the Black educators who poured into her along the way, Jael reflects on the importance of representation, leadership,…
"Broader change requires influencing policy and systems to reach thousands." This conviction sits at the heart of Claton Lewis's career. As Assistant Director for Career Readiness at Morgan State University, Claton traces a journey from Trinidad and Tobago through entrepreneurship and into higher education, shaped by family legacy and key mentors who modeled what intentional, community-driven…
In this episode, we welcome Charles Small, a flight instructor from Richmond, Virginia — and a Black Educators Matter first. Not only is Charles our first aviation instructor featured on the podcast, but he is also the son and brother of two previous podcast guests, making this a true family affair. His journey into aviation began with a single tour of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 10th…
“My joy is my responsibility” Roosevelt Smith Student Manager; Program Director “So I like to say, I went to college and I never came out,” In this episode, we sit down with Roosevelt Smith, a student manager and program director at York College in Queens, New York, whose career has been built on one core belief: students deserve to be ready for the opportunities waiting for them. From co-founding…
