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Archive - October 2017

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Communities Need Districts and Charters to Collaborate More and Compete Less

October 27, 2017
by Sharif El-Mekki
5 min read
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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...

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  • Equity and Justice
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We Lift As We Climb Because We Are Responsible For Our Communities

October 25, 2017
by Sharif El-Mekki
3 min read
1 Comment

“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...

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The Principal That Leads Is the Principal That Is Seen

October 23, 2017
by Zachary Wright
4 min read
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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...

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I’ve Been a Principal for 15 Years, Here’s 12 Things I’ve Learned Along the Way

October 18, 2017
by Sharif El-Mekki
6 min read
3 Comments

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...

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  • Equity and Justice
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STAY WOKE. DON’T BLINK: THE NATIONAL BLACK MALE EDUCATORS CONVENING

October 15, 2017
by Sharif El-Mekki
7 min read
1 Comment

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...

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This Highly Effective Black Male Educator Teaches a Social Justice Class to Middle Schoolers in West Philly

October 12, 2017
by Sharif El-Mekki
4 min read
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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...

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  • Equity and Justice
  • Let's Talk About It
  • School Choice

Stop Berating Black and Brown Parents Over Charters (and Give Your Twitter Fingers a Rest)

October 8, 2017
by Sharif El-Mekki
5 min read
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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...

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  • Equity and Justice
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This Past Yom Kippur, My Friend Atoned for White Supremacy

October 5, 2017
by Sharif El-Mekki
7 min read
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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...

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  • Equity and Justice
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People of Color Aren’t Just Tokenized in Nonprofits, It Happens in Schools, Too

October 1, 2017
by Sharif El-Mekki
5 min read
2 Comments

“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...

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