So important! open.substack.com/pub/courtney...

Join us in community with developing future teachers and Literacy as the foci

Joy is not a luxury. For Dr. Wenimo Okoya, it's a necessity. The Founder & Executive Director of the Healing Schools Project shares what she thinks it will take to make teaching a joyful, sustainable career: https://thecenterblacked.org/womens-history-month-spotlight-dr-wenimo-okoya/

For our final Women's History Month spotlight, we're honored to share words from Aimée Eubanks Davis, CEO of Braven. She has an impactful message for Black women and men who are considering a career in education. #WomensHistoryMonth #WeNeedBlackTeachers

You have this month to enroll your rising 1st to 3rd graders in Freedom Schools Literacy Academy (FSLA). The program is open virtually and in Philadelphia. There are limited spots for each grade level! https://thecenterblacked.org/fsla-home/families/ #FreedomSchoolsLiteracyAcademy

BIG NEWS: The 9th Annual Black Men in Education Convening is returning to Philadelphia, and early bird registration is NOW open. Join us for #BMEC2026, November 13–15, 2026. Register today: https://thecenterblacked.org/bmec/ #WeNeedBlackTeachers

Congratulations to PA's 2025 Teacher of the Year, Leon Smith, who was announced as this year's 2026 National Teacher of the Year on CBS This Morning: https://lnkd.in/gwERgBvV #WeNeedBlackTeachers #ThankABlackTeacher

Give your scholar a summer of literacy joy! Registration is OPEN for the Center for Black Educator Development's virtual Freedom Schools Literacy Academy. Daily class start time: 8:00 AM ET Virtual students can join from anywhere! Register today: https://thecenterblacked.org/fsla-home/families/

Calling all future educators! The Future Teachers of Excellence Fellowship is now accepting applications. 🗓️ Apply by June 8, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST. Apply: https://opportunities.uncf.org/s/program-landing-page?id=a2iVJ00000iFR3NYA #WeNeedBlackTeachers

The Center for Black Educator Development joined Teach Plus PA's Celebrate Teacher Leadership and Action event earlier this month. Founder and CEO Sharif El-Mekki helped honor this year's National Teacher of the Year, Leon Smith, with an award. Chief of Staff Vanessa Renee also helped celebrate.

Exciting news: Our Freedom Schools Literacy Academy scholar enrollment is now extended until May 15th! There are still limited seats available for rising 1st-3rd graders in Philadelphia and in our virtual program. Register here: https://thecenterblacked.org/fsla-home/families/

The Center for Black Educator Development has two job openings! Visit our careers page to learn more about applying for the Director of Administration and the Managing Director of Accounting. Learn more and apply: https://thecenterblacked.org/careers/

Huge thanks to NFL star Nakobe Dean for joining our Black Teacher Appreciation Day celebration! We want to hear your messages of celebration and thanks - tag us so we can share it out. #ThankABlackTeacher #WeNeedBlackTeachers #BlackTeacherAppreciationDay

Bethune-Cookman Wildcats basketball player Daniel Rouzan shared his thoughts on Black Teacher Appreciation Day. We love seeing all of the celebrations today - keep tagging us so we can share it out with our community. #BlackTeacherAppreciationDay #ThankABlackTeacher #WeNeedBlackTeachers

Teacher Joy Washington shares how a Black high school teacher helped her pursue a career in education. On this Black Teacher Appreciation Day, what Black teacher made a difference in your life? #ThankABlackTeacher #WeNeedBlackTeachers #BlackTeacherAppreciationDay

Thank you to everyone who joined us for AI in Action: An Equity Learning Lab at George Mason University’s Mason Square campus. We are grateful to every educator who showed up ready to learn, collaborate, ask questions, and imagine new possibilities for teaching and learning. #GenerationAI

We've extended registration for this summer's Freedom Schools Literacy Academy! You have until June 1st to register your young scholars to attend in Philadelphia or virtually: https://thecenterblacked.org/fsla-home/families/

As usual, @selmekki.bsky.social is clarifying and insightful. Often he names values I never realized I held. Here he walks a fraught line and for me, is a teacher with empathy and forcefulness! wordinblack.com/2026/04/gen-...

apnews.com/article/nati... high school history instructor named nation's Teacher of the Year

Rebuilding the Black Teacher Pipeline, for the Benefit of All Students www.the74million.org/article/rebu...

A victory for academic freedom. This month, the U.S. Department of Ed's Feb 2025 "Dear Colleague" directive was permanently struck down. CBED Founder & CEO @selmekki.bsky.social shares what this means: https://thecenterblacked.org/sharif-el-mekki-on-dei-ruling-academic-freedom/

On Tuesday, Google apologized for sending a push alert that included the N-word. Completely spelled out. Hard “er” and all. The tech giant says its BAFTA notification was just a system error. For Black people, that distinction doesn’t erase the harm. wordinblack.com/2026/02/goog...

Share your approach to supporting students and colleagues during this important month. 💡

"Once we ensure that students can read, we need to make sure students accidentally or intentionally fall in love with reading." Teach Plus MA Policy Fellow Caroline Lovett shares how school librarians and staff can get students to become lifelong readers: www.milforddailynews.com/story/opinio...

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.—Nelson Mandela Pic of the day #photography

This one hits hard.

SUMMER OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS: Applications are open for Summer 2026 #FreedomSchoolsLiteracyAcademy! You can get paid to support literacy, build leadership skills, and explore teaching in Philly. Apply now: https://thecenterblacked.org/fsla-home/high-school-students/ #WeNeedBlackTeachers

Mos de open.substack.com/pub/citizen/...