When Black Teachers Matter: Features from Teachers Like Me

A group of educators from Teachers Like Me is sitting in a classroom for their September professional development session. Their curriculum coordinator, Demicco Witherspoon, is seen leading this session. Photo Credits: Jorge Fuller What Do We Need From Education? A student’s uncle walked into Jorge Fuller’s classroom, he then became a part of Jorge’s most prized lesson. The uncle and trained fireman, joined his niece’s classroom that day because of Jorge’s commitment to an open-door policy. Mr. Fuller’s invitation to “stop by anytime you want,” was welcomed with reassurance when the student’s uncle was encouraged to take a seat. He sat down in a math lesson and ended up borrowing a pencil to take notes himself.& During this lesson Mr. Fuller explained predatory lending through math, by discussing debt and how to calculate accrued interest on a loan. By teaching this lesson, Jorge hoped to protect his students from the financial attacks that he saw some of his family members encounter. & A lesson on predatory lending wasn’t a part of the standard state math curriculum–instead, it was a cautionary lesson on how racism can look in action. Jorge delivered this lesson with care for his students, an understanding of...