Human nature often finds us pointing the finger at others, while absolving ourselves of blame. While we often tell students, “When you point a finger at others, three fingers are pointed back at you,” adults, at times, fail...
Archive - October 2017
“You all should be super proud! Your kids are out here doing amazing things,” Maye-gan. Read more about what this alumna is up to these days and what drives her decision making. In high school I was involved in...
On Sunday, one of my former students, Youssef Kromah, provided me with a great compliment when he recited his poetry at the National Black Male Educators Convening. In a recent blog, a teammate of eight years did the same. You...
This marks my 15th year as a principal. I have learned directly from my coaches, mentors and colleagues. Many of the lessons I have learned and continue to learn, are no different than any leadership advice that I have read in...
You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time. -Angela Davis How many Black male teachers did you have in your pre-K to 12th-grade experience? Black men are the most...

This Highly Effective Black Male Educator Teaches a Social Justice Class to Middle Schoolers in West Philly
Someone once asked me, “Why teach social justice to eighth-graders?” The answer is simple: As educators, we do not control the world our students face when they step outside of our classrooms. However, we are responsible for...
My friend, and well-respected veteran educator, Nathan Bowling dedicated a poignant blog to his friends (and Black and Brown families everywhere) who had to face White backlash for doing what they thought was right for their own...
Here is a personal, thoughtful article from my friend, Justin C. Cohen challenging Jewish people to be anti-racists. He always writes with clarity, humility, and thoughtfulness. If you haven’t read his work, dive in! When...
“We haven’t been sending you any Black candidates, well, because you’re Black.” After reading an article by Helen Kim Ho, I couldn’t help but to think of this quote made by a central office staffer many years ago. It...