PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Representation matters. There is a growing need for more Black men in classrooms, as they currently make up just 1.3% of all teachers in the U.S.
“Every single Black male that’s within a school building feels their influence and their impact. It’s part and parcel of being such a rare part of the school ecosystem — that when you’re there, you feel it,” said Jonathan Garr, director of school investments for the Camden Education Fund.
The Center for Black Educator Development is hosting its annual Black Men in Education Convening conference at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel from Nov. 16 to 18.
Before that kicks off, the Camden Education Fund will host a kickoff celebration and a check presentation of $10,000 to 25 Camden school-based staff educators that the organization is sponsoring to attend the conference.
“We knew that this was just a great opportunity for the Black male staff in schools, to really be able to join in on that,” Garr said, “and we wanted to make sure that there were as few impediments to it as possible.”
Principals and support staff are included as well.
“We’re also filling in a lot of auxiliary roles,” Garr continued. “We wanted to make sure that we provided this to not just those Black male teachers but to all Black male staff that are working in schools because they all have an impact.”
In fact, the influence on young Black men is impressive. Research shows Black boys who have at least one Black teacher are up to 39% less likely to drop out of school. And, if Black students have two Black elementary school teachers, they are 29% more likely to go to college.
Garr said he can relate to that. “Even as I moved on to the other side and became a teacher, I was able to see how students gravitate to you because they see you as that Black male role model for them.”
The conference will focus on issues like STEM instruction, mental health and community engagement.