Our Vision

The Black Teacher Project (BTP), is a program that sustains and develops Black teachers to lead and reimagine schools as communities of liberated learning. BTP's vision is that every student will benefit from the diversity, excellence, and leadership of an empowered Black teaching force.

Black teachers are essential. The purpose and vision of the Black Teacher Project is rooted in research that shows Black teachers have higher expectations for Black students, who thereby perform better; all students prefer Black and Hispanic teachers; and non-Black students benefit from Black teachers by having a role model across racial differences. While supporting teachers in their work, BTP ultimately strives to ensure more equitable processes and outcomes for students who will lead us to a just society. Therefore, the Black Teacher Project's motto is “Every child deserves a Black teacher.”

The Black Teacher Project works with university partners, school districts, and educational leaders to develop and sustain the leadership capacity that Black teachers need in order to transform schools into liberated learning environments. The foundation of BTP's primary work is affinity-based peer spaces that address Black teachers’ intersecting identities and leadership needs. This work also addresses implicit biases embedded in credentialing processes, school policies, and interpersonal dynamics with colleagues, students, and parents. BTP's professional development offerings help alleviate the isolation felt by many Black teachers and provide the leadership and pedagogical support Black teachers need at different stages of their careers.

blackteacher

“I feel supported and whole. I have a sense of community that will make it easier for me to thrive as a teacher next school year.”

Black Teacher Leadership and Sustainability Institute (BTLSI) 2018 participant