Black Veteran Educators School Next-Gen Teachers

This& post& was originally published on& Defender Network By Laura Onyeneho | Houston Defender | Word In Black (WIB) – The first years of teaching can be scary, lonely times, and with the public education system consistently changing, it can often be hard to navigate. Teachers will have the herculean task of engaging students starting the school year already behind, learning loss, dealing with emotional and mental traumas, and other costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, sometimes without enough guidance. For Ocie Miles Jr., a two-year educator at Aldine ISD, the decision to become an educator was deeply rooted in his desire to empower and inspire the next generation. As an educator, he aimed to “expand student’s knowledge, give them opportunities, and prepare them for life after graduation.” However, Miles quickly discovered that teaching was far more complex than anticipated. “Some of the barriers Black educators encounter in the education system [is that] our voices are barely heard or considered,” he said. “We cannot teach the way we want to; extra micro-managing; and the lack of freedom to be yourself in and outside of the classroom.” Navigating the intricacies of classroom management, addressing the diverse needs of his students, and...