Tag Archives: African American Teachers

Washington teacher Evin Shinn addresses social justice

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Evin Shinn, who teaches 11th grade US History and Language Arts at Cleveland High School in Seattle, Washington, works with his students to address issues of social justice.

Throughout America, educators who are still conducting classes are struggling with how to address issues of social justice with their students. One such educator is Evin Shinn, who teaches 11th grade US History and Language Arts at Cleveland High School in Seattle, Washington.

Evin is one of only three African American teachers at his school, even though 90% of the student body is students of color, and 20% is African American. Because he is Black, Evin feels compelled to address the current protests and issues of social justice with his students, despite the difficulty of broaching the subject. “It’s hard because as a teacher, you’re not a therapist, you’re not a social worker, you’re not a doctor or a nurse—but those are all roles we take on when you become a teacher,” Evin remarked in an interview with Education Week (June 1, 2020). “Particularly as a Black educator, it’s so important to show up for students in moments like this.”

When protests erupted throughout the country this week in response to the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, Evin sent text messages to his students to tell them he wasn’t assigning any work this week. Instead, he told his students they should do something to combat racism. He suggested they write a letter to elected officials, make a protest sign, or write a poem that reflected on inequities and the protests.

Next the compassionate teacher sent a text message to each one of his African American students individually to ask them if they were OK and if there was anything he could do for them. “I was very open,” Evin said. He told the students, “I’m feeling definitely sad, and I’m feeling hopeless and angry, and I feel rage,” he revealed. He asked them, “How are you doing? How are you feeling?” The students who responded confessed they felt like this week has been “one big emotional roller coaster.” One student said they were avoiding social media because there’s “a lot going on, and it’s really sad.” In addition to reaching out to the kids, Evin held a virtual class meeting on Wednesday to give his students additional opportunities to talk and process their emotions.

Evin is just one of many educators who is working diligently with their students as they try to cope with current events in meaningful and constructive ways. He is a true Chalkboard Champion! To read more about him and other educators addressing today’s current events with their students, read the full article at Education Week.

Georgia educator Ernestine Miles Mann succumbs to Covid-19

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The educational community is saddened by the passing of Georgia educator Ernestine Miles Mann, who succumbed to Covid-19 on March 29, 2020.

The educational community is saddened by the passing of another educator lost to Covid-19. Ernestine Miles Mann, a retired teacher of Georgia, passed away on March 29, 2020, in Atlanta. She was 83 years old.

Ernestine was born June 15, 1936, in Atlanta, Georgia. As a youngster, she attended the Spelman College Nursery School and Ogelthorpe Elementary School located on the campus of Morris Brown College. In 1953, she graduated from at Booker T. Washington High School. As a young woman, she earned her Bachelor’s degree from Spelman College in 1957 with a major in English and a minor in Elementary Education.

The longtime educator devoted 26 years of her 30-year career teaching at the elementary level in the Atlanta Public School system. Upon her retirement, she was appointed by Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell to serve as the Chair on the Civil Service Board for the City of Atlanta. She was later re-hired by the Atlanta Board of Education to observe and evaluate first-year teachers.

Ernestine was a member of the Atlanta Chapter of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College. She served as chapter president from 1966-1968. For this work, she received the Distinguished Alumnae Award in 2012. She was also a member of the Executive Board of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College. In 2007, she was honored by the Atlanta Chapter for her dedication and leadership to the organization. In addition, Ernestine was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Atlanta Alumnae Chapter, and served as chapter adviser for the Eta Kappa Chapter of Spelman College. For her work in education, Ernestine garnered the Delta Torch Award and, in 2017, she earned the Spelman Founders Spirit Award.

To read more about this amazing Chalkboard Champion, see this link at Spelman College.

Coronavirus claims life of retired PE teacher Myrtle Pollard of NYC

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Sadly, the coronavirus claims the life of New York City retired physical eduction teacher Myrtle Pollard.

The educational community is saddened by the passing of yet another educator who has been lost to the coronavirus. Myrtle Pollard, a retired teacher from New York City, succumbed to the disease on March 28, 2020. She was 80 years old.

Myrtle taught the majority of her career at PS 181 in Flatbush, Brooklyn.  She taught health education and physical education. She also instructed courses in Adult Basic Education in the Bronx. She retired 17 years ago,

Myrtle earned her Bachelor’s degree at Claflin University, a historically Black university located in Orangeburg, Orangeburg County, South Carolina. She earned her Master’s degree at City College of New York. Myrtle was an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority for 60 years.

Myrtle was one of many educators in her family. Her late husband, her sisters, and her daughter also entered the profession, and all devoted careers to the New York City Department of Education..

To read more about Myrtle, see this link at New York State United Teachers.

Fanny Barrier Williams: Educator and Activist

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Fanny Barrier Williams: Educator and Activist

Throughout our country’s history, there have been many examples of talented and dedicated educators who have made a mark on society as a whole. One such example is Frances “Fanny” Barrier Williams, a 19th-century teacher and activist. 

Born on February 12, 1855, in Brockport, New York, to free parents, Fanny and her siblings attended the local public school. In 1870, Fanny became the first African American to graduate from the State Normal School in Brockport. When the Civil War was over, this energetic educator accepted a teaching position in the south to help educate newly freed slaves. 

In 1893, when she was 38 years old, Fanny moved north to the city of Chicago, a city which experienced a boom when it hosted the World’s Fair. When Fanny and other black women leaders protested their exclusion from the fair’s planning, this leading-edge teacher was appointed to gather exhibits for the women’s hall. She was also selected to give two speeches during the fair. In her speeches, Fanny argued to a predominantly white audience that African American women were eager and ready for education and to learn new skills. Fanny’s speeches were so well received that she soon became a popular author and orator.

Once the fair was over, Fanny helped form the National League of Colored Women in 1896. She also donated her energy to assist other African American women when they migrated to northern states.

Fannie Williams dedicated her whole life to aiding and uplifting those in need, improving inter-racial relations, and working for justice for all. This remarkable chalkboard champion passed away of natural causes on March 4, 1944. She is buried at High Street Cemetery in Brockport, Monroe County, New York.

To read more about Fanny Bafrrier Williams, see this link to blackpast.org.

Philadelphia’s Keziah Ridgeway stays connected with students during pandemic

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High school history teacher Keziah Ridgeway from Philadelpohia, Pennsylvania, stays connected with her students by leading a free online course in African American history during coronavirus pandemic closures.

Teachers all over the country have struggled over the past month to stay connected with their students during coronavirus shut down. One teacher who is doing this very successfully is Keziah Rodgeway, a history teacher from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Keziah teaches at Northeast High School in Philadelphia. When the schools in her district were shut down, she offered her students a free online course on African American history to any student who was interested. The response was so enthusiastic that she now teaches her course four days a week on Google Hangouts Meet. Between 40 to 60 students per week, some of them from out of state, tune in to the online sessions, even though the classes aren’t required and even though they wont be getting any credit for the effort.

There is more at stake than knowledge. Keziah and her students are attempting to maintain some semblance of normalcy in their lives, and to stay connected with others while social distancing at home. “When we are educating, we are doing so much more than that,” Keziah expressed. “And it’s so important for our students to see that we really care about them — that we’re invested in their future. And one way you do that is showing up.”

Before long, Keziah noticed that her virtual classroom has become its own little universe, with kids from around the city forging new bonds. One day she had to cancel class because of other job obligations. When she logged on to remind students of the cancellation, she found a lot of them were still there in the virtual class — hanging out, chatting with each other, and even trying to lead a lesson themselves. “They really log on to be a part of a community,” she said. “They continue to come because they want to continue to interact and have some sort of normalcy.”

Keziah earned her Bachelor’s degree in History from Temple University in 2009. She earned her  Master’s degree in Secondary Education and her teaching credentials from Saint Joseph’s University in 2011. She has taught for  Philadelphia Public Schools since 2014.

To read more about teachers and their efforts to stay in touch with their students during the pandemic, see this article from WHYY at PBS.