Black Male Educators Alliance: Boldly Moving Education Ahead

The Black Male Educators Alliance (BMEA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017 with a commitment to building equitable educational environments where Black male educators and students can thrive. BMEA's vision is to develop educators who transform the educational experience of Black and Brown students so that they become the leaders of tomorrow.

The Origin Story: A Response to Underrepresentation

BMEA's origin story is deeply connected to its founder, Dr. Curtis L. Lewis, who noticed he was the only Black, male teacher in a district of 20 elementary schools. This realization sparked a desire to address the underrepresentation of Black men in education and to shift the narrative around their involvement in the field. Raised by a family with incredible work ethic, achievement, and excellence, Dr. Lewis began his journey to transform the educational experience of Black and Brown educators and children. He wanted to find ways to engage younger males into the profession.

Dr. Lewis believes in leading with love, creating educational spaces that elevate and empower Black and Brown students to become future leaders.

The Need for Transformation in Education

BMEA recognizes that the education system is in dire need of a profound transformation. The organization highlights several key statistics that underscore this need:

Understaffing in High-Poverty Schools: 57% of schools in high-poverty neighborhoods are understaffed and struggle to retain teachers.
Underrepresentation of Black Men: Only 1.3% of the current teaching force is Black men.
Disciplinary Disparities: Black and Brown students lose approximately 5 times the number of days of school due to suspension compared to White students.
Achievement Gaps: Black students score 31% lower than their white counterparts.

Core Values: Guiding Principles for Action

BMEA operates on a foundation of core values that guide its actions and interactions:

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Love and Care: Fostering an environment of empathy and support, ensuring that every individual feels valued and respected.
Integrity: Upholding the highest standards of honesty and transparency in all actions and interactions.
Commitment: Dedication to the mission and relentless pursuit of equity and excellence in education.
Execution: Striving for excellence in all endeavors, ensuring that actions lead to meaningful and measurable outcomes.

Programs and Initiatives: Delivering Transformative Education

BMEA delivers transformative education through a variety of programs and initiatives:

Youth Leadership Development

An intergenerational mentoring model, operating year-round, previously serving over 250 students across seven school sites in Metropolitan Detroit. The B.M.E.A program currently has 77 high school mentors in the Youth Leadership Development Program and just under 250 elementary school mentees. This program engages students in relevant issues that affect them directly. The goal is to help them develop essential leadership skills, including communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, which they will need as they grow older.

"We believe our Youth Leadership Development Program has many benefits, but one is to help rebuild a pipeline of Black males interested in becoming teachers," educator Joseph said. "And that program is an intergenerational model of mentoring, in which you have supervisors that serve as mentors and supervise the high school Black males who work in the local elementary schools."

Summer Program

The Summer Program is a continuum of the year-round Youth Leadership Development Program. A summer program for 150 Black males in grades 2-11 also continues the year-round Youth Leadership Development Program. The program offers math intervention, social and emotional learning, and cultural and identity development, according to the B.M.E.A. Spots for the BMEA Summer Program are limited, and we’re excited to announce that we’re now offering a CO-ED site in addition to our programming. This is a first-come, first-served opportunity.

Developing School Leaders and Teachers

BMEA partners with schools to support leadership and staff in developing a relationship-centered school culture using Restorative Practices. BMEA's Principal and Teacher Wellness Professional Learning Communities are education equity programs: two-year co-ed fellowship programs that equip school staff with culturally responsive leadership and professional development strategies.

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Teacher Wellness Cohort

BMEA is welcoming its FIRST New York Teacher Wellness Cohort and we couldn’t be more excited! This cohort is stepping into a year centered on healing, reflection, growth, and community-with dedicated space to prioritize themselves while strengthening their impact in the classroom and beyond. BMEA's new Detroit Teacher Wellness Cohort officially kicked off this weekend! Fellows shared their personal wellness journeys alongside Dr. Lewis, connected with their complimentary psychiatrist who will support them through monthly check-ins, and spent meaningful time building relationships with one another.

Black Male Educator Summit

At the Annual Black Male Educator Summit, Current and aspiring Black males in education have the chance to attend engaging workshops, listen to thought-provoking panel discussions, and network with like-minded individuals who are passionate about education.

BMEA Planning Development Meetings

2 hour quarterly meeting for current/aspiring Black Males in Education.

Addressing the Underrepresentation of Black Male Educators

In the United States, Black male teachers made up 1.3% of all teachers in K-12 grades in public schools for the 2020-2021 school year, according to data from the National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS). That makes them the second least-represented demographic in teaching, with Asian men representing just 0.5% of all teachers.

BMEA and other organizations are actively working to address this underrepresentation through various initiatives:

Targeted Recruitment Efforts: Organizations are focusing on recruiting Black male educators through specific programs and outreach.
Financial and Programmatic Support: Initiatives like the Black Educators Initiative and Teach for America's Black Educators Promise provide financial and programmatic support for current and aspiring Black educators.
Professional Development: ACE Academy hosts a variety of events tailored for the progression of Black Male Educators.
Culturally Responsive Training: Providing training for educators and administrators to promote cultural competency and address implicit bias.
Mentoring Programs: Creating mentoring programs to support and guide Black male educators in their careers.

The Impact of Black Male Educators

Research has shown that having Black male educators can have a positive impact on academic achievement and social-emotional development, particularly for Black male students. Black male educators serve as role models for students of all backgrounds, demonstrating that success is attainable regardless of race or gender. They also bring cultural competence and understanding to the classroom, helping to create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students.

High school student DeRick McCalebb said, "They help me grab my voice, like I know how to speak up for myself and speak up for others,"

The Way Forward: A Vision for Equitable Education

BMEA's Founder Dr. Curtis L. Lewis created The Way Forward podcast to spotlight and discuss issues impacting the educational landscape. The organization envisions a future where equitable education is prioritized, Restorative Practices form the foundation, educators are supported, and ALL have the right to high-quality, transformative educational experiences.

BMEA is dedicated to liberating students, teachers, and school leaders in an effort to transform the landscape of education across our country. Founded in 2017 with an original targeted focus on increasing the percentage of black males in the classroom in the State of Michigan, BMEA evolved with a mission to develop effective culturally responsive educators who cultivate learning partnerships and grow independent thinkers and learners.

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