Guest Commentary

Building a New Social Contract for Teachers

The founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development says now, more than ever, our school teachers need support that’s financial, cultural and structural

By Sharif El-Mekki
Guest Commentary

It’s Black Male Educator October

Thirty years ago, Philly led a groundbreaking effort to recruit more Black men into classrooms. A local educator is leading the charge to revive that campaign because #WeNeedBlackTeachers for the sake of our students

By Sharif El-Mekki
Guest Commentary

A Different Kind of Education Promise

The founder of a Black teacher pipeline wonders: Isn’t it time to make a long-term investment in our public school children’s futures?

By Sharif El-Mekki
Guest Commentary

Believe in Black Students

Here are some ways schools can take action and demonstrate a commitment to anti-racism that is essential for reducing pandemic learning loss

By Sharif El-Mekki
Guest Commentary

Tackling Illiteracy

The first-ever virtual Freedom Schools Literacy Academy models liberation education — and gets results

By Sharif El-Mekki
Guest Commentary

Teaching Black Children is a Revolutionary Act

The director of a Black teacher training program pens an open letter to new educators for their “subversive act of hope”

By Sharif El-Mekki
Guest Commentary

Is Progressivism Letting Down Our Kids?

A longtime educator/activist bemoans the dilemma of progressive cities like Philly, where everyone progresses, except for Black and Brown children.

By Sharif El-Mekki

Black Teachers Are Not Enough

A Mastery principal notes that schools also need support to keep those—and all—teachers in their jobs

By Sharif El-Mekki
Citizen Of The Week

Nasihah Thompson-King

As her Mastery-Shoemaker principal attests, the high schooler benched from basketball because of her hijab is a freedom fighter for our times

By Sharif El-Mekki

I’ve Known Gun Violence

A Mastery high school principal who is both a gun owner and gunshot victim on why guns in schools makes kids less safe

By Sharif El-Mekki