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Tag - College

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What’s “Woke” And What’s “Whack” About How Teachers Are Being Prepared?

April 17, 2021
by Sharif El-Mekki
6 min read
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Effective teachers can change and save lives, but being a great teacher is hard. The challenge is especially acute in our high-poverty, under-resourced public schools where teacher tenure is lowest. Black and brown students...

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  • Equity and Justice
  • Let's Talk About It

Despite Massive Inequities, I Am Pursuing Black Literacy

January 16, 2019
by Maye-gan Brown
5 min read
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As a college junior that has had to navigate the daily obstacle course of a predominately white institution (PWI) as well as a declared English major that has had to succumb to the yearly syllabus with the writings of...

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I’ve Known Gun Violence

March 16, 2018
by Sharif El-Mekki
4 min read
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I’ve known gun violence. Intimately. An in-law was gunned down at his front door by police responding to a “Black burglar.” He was fortunate to live. In college, my roommates were threatened by shotgun-toting White...

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  • Equity and Justice
  • Let's Talk About It

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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  • Let's Talk About It
  • School Choice

Camden Principal Dr. William Hayes on Building Relationships, School Climate and Teamwork

May 24, 2017
by Sharif El-Mekki
7 min read
2 Comments

This is a guest post from Tre Johnson, deputy director for JerseyCAN and a leadership member of The Fellowship–Black Male Educators for Social Justice. It originally appeared on the JerseyCAN blog and was reproduced here with...

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  • Equity and Justice
  • Let's Talk About It

While Diversity Makes Us Stronger Many of Our Schools Are Weak

April 28, 2017
by Sharif El-Mekki
5 min read
1 Comment

“Mr. El-Mekki, I have been thinking…I think I want to be a teacher.” When Rasheen Hill, a West Chester University student and Shoemaker alumnus, visited me last week sporting his Alpha Phi Alpha jacket, he had news that...

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  • Equity and Justice
  • Let's Talk About It

Are You Serious About Decreasing the Dropout Rates of Black Students? Hire More Black Teachers

April 13, 2017
by Sharif El-Mekki
2 min read
1 Comment

It is no surprise to me that quantifiable and quantitative data supports the need for more Black teachers in our public schools. However, unfortunately, at times, I receive messages from people (including educators) saying, “it...

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  • Accountability
  • Belief Gap
  • Equity and Justice
  • Let's Talk About It

One Foot in His Mouth, the Other Foot Stomping on Black Students’ College Aspirations

February 26, 2017
by Sharif El-Mekki
6 min read
1 Comment

Recently, John Eichelberger, a Pennsylvania lawmaker made remarks that were insensitive, devoid of intellectual curiosity and logic, and projected a biased and racist posture towards “urban kids.” Eichelberger is the chairman...

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College Accessibility for Philly’s Black Youth

May 25, 2016
by Soledad Alfaro
5 min read
4 Comments

The other day, one of my colleagues on the recruitment team asked me about an applicant to the Teacher Residency program. I had to ask her to repeat the candidate’s name three times. I was stunned momentarily because I had...

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