According to the U.S department of Education, Black males make up only 2 percent of the teaching workforce nationwide. This issue of Black men not being teachers in the classroom affects every student, but itaffects Black boys disproportionately.

A 2017 study by the Institute of Labor Economics found that low-income Black students who have a Black teacher—man or woman—for at least one year in elementary school are lesslikely to drop out of high school and more likely to consider college. Still, only seven percent of teachers nationwide are Black. What are the long and short term effects for the mental health and growth of our black students if they never see themselves in their educators?

At our first event in our Leaders of Color series, we will be diving into the need and importance of Black men in education. We will start with a Q&A featuring three incredible Black male teachers: Will Smart, Bernard Alexander, and Stephen Ucheomumu. This conversation will be facilitated by Britney Brunache, who is currently leading as the President of the Black Student Union at Gettysburg College.

Our questions will explore how our panelists' identities have intersected in the classroom, the importance of representation, and how they've been able to center mental health and self-care in their work for their students and themselves.

You will then be able to go into self-selected breakout groups where you can learn more about race in education, mental health and vulnerability in the classroom, and grad school/post-graduation opportunities for those who plan to teach.

We look forward to hopefully seeing you there!

*This event is open to students of all racial and ethnic identities, but we will be specifically elevating the voices of Black men in our panel.