Voice: 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
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
“Black History is Yours to Make”
A Mastery principal who boycotted the NFL this year is grateful to the Eagles—for helping him demonstrate that activism matters
By Sharif El-Mekki
MLK’s “Burning House”
A Mastery high school principal says the civil rights leader may have begun with integration—but that’s not where he landed
By Sharif El-Mekki
An Open Letter to Principals
In honor of National Principals Month, Mastery Shoemaker’s leader lays out the 12 lessons he’s learned to do the job well
By Sharif El-Mekki
National Black Male Educators Convening
A Mastery principal and advocate hosts a conference to bring together—and grow—the ranks of black teachers
By Sharif El-Mekki
The Anti School Choice Hypocrisy
A Mastery charter school principal calls out his anti-charter friends for denying choice—but only for black students
By Sharif El-Mekki
I Want To Be a (Black Male) Teacher
A Mastery principal and organizer sees progress—and much work to do—in his efforts to recruit effective black male teachers
By Sharif El-Mekki
I Grew Up in the Desert
A high school principal who was a child in Iran reflects on what immigrant and refugee students need most: an education that embraces their difference
By Sharif El-Mekki