E’ry day this month, Philly’s 7th Ward, in partnership with the Center for Black Educator Development, will highlight a “Black Educator Hall of Famer.“ But, don’t forget, e’ry month is Black History Month. February is just the Blackest. Every day is an ongoing opportunity to learn and teach the colossal impact Black educators have had on society.
Abigail Henry
Abigail Henry is an educator dedicated to teaching Black history to Black children, boldly pursuing that aim despite the backlash. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in 2005, and of University College London with a Master’s in Material and Visual Culture in 2009.
She is a former teacher of African American Studies at Master Charter Schools in Philadelphia. She’s taught the subject for 13 years in total. In that role, she has led numerous professional development training sessions to share best practices in teaching Black history to all students. Additionally, she’s helped shape school and district-wide curriculum and has been part of the Culturally Responsive Teaching working group.
Her work is not limited to classroom teaching and professional development. Henry has used her knowledge and applied her expertise as a writer. She’s currently a featured writer for the Center for Black Educator Development’s Philly’s 7th Ward blog, where she’s written 25 articles on teaching Black history, culturally responsive teaching, education policy, and supporting Black teachers in schools. She is also a guest contributor to the 1619 Project for Education Materials Collection, where she has provided book recommendations, pedagogical reflections, and participated in a teaching lab, resulting from an impact grant from the 1619 Project in 2024.
As a teacher, Henry understood the power of her unique identity in promoting the importance of Black history among her own students:
“When I first started teaching Black history [14] years ago, I did not talk about my own experiences in school. I was so focused on classroom management and objective mastery that I did not realize that my own racial identity and stories would help me build trust with students. They were more engaged after I honestly answered their questions about being a biracial teacher of Black history… As I observe the discourse over Black identity playing out during an election year, it is so evident why Black history is needed in our schools. It’s also clear that we must expand the narratives in which Black identities are taught to include the diversity of Black humanity that existed in classrooms like mine.”
Currently, Henry is a doctoral student and Graduate Fellow at the Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education at the University at Buffalo Graduate of Education. She is specifically the Center for K-12 Black History Education Fellow and the Arthur A. Schomburg Fellow at the University. Henry, with fellow Philadelphians 7th Ward writer and educator Ishmael Jimenez, and with the support of the Center for Black Educator Development, successfully launched the Blackprint 20, a summit recognizing the 20-year history of Black history education in public schools.
Henry has dedicated her career to service to her community and her people. That will continue after achieving her doctoral degree. Because she understands that in an anti-Black society, young members of the African Diaspora need someone who will advocate for their proper education. Henry has agreed not only be such an advocate but to use her voice to lead the charge.
As this Black History Month concludes, you should know about Abigail Henry, a member of the Black Educator Hall of Fame.
