5 Black Teachers on the Educators Who Inspired Them

By Aziah Siid Originally appeared in Word in Black We asked Black teachers nationwide to tell us about an educator who left an unforgettable mark on them. The best teachers not only educate their students academically but also mentor, nurture, and inspire them. When they pour their energy into supporting the whole student — not just growing their intellect — they plant seeds that may result in those students going on to become teachers themselves.& That’s especially critical given both the shortage of Black teachers across the nation and the impact having a Black teacher has on students. As Sharif El-Mekki, the founder and chief executive officer of the Center for Black Educator Development, recently wrote for Word In Black, “Research shows when a Black student has one Black teacher by third grade, they’re 13% more likely to enroll in college. With two Black teachers, that jumps to 32%. For Black boys from low-income households, their on-time high school graduation rates soar by almost 40%.”   That’s why we asked several Black teachers nationwide a simple question: Tell us about an educator from your past who left an unforgettable mark on you. This is what these educators had to say about...