From the Block is a riveting film about Black educators in Dallas’s impoverished 75216 zip code. The documentary was created to bring awareness to the challenges Black teachers face in impoverished neighborhoods, the cultivation of solutions that assist in them overcoming these seemingly insurmountable obstacles and their incomparable impact on students and colleagues of ALL races. The movie idea was birthed from the heart-wrenching murder of George Floyd. Prior to that incident, I had worked diligently as a Teach Plus Senior Fellow to create national papers and host focus groups that delved into the significance and necessity of diversifying the teacher pipeline, ensuring that we had effective teachers of color in classrooms across the country to mirror the diversity of America’s students. However, last May, in a moment that paralyzed most Americans, I was forced to start thinking about the educator pipeline, more explicitly, from the Black teacher perspective.
I knew that this untimely and excruciating event was going to be emblazoned in history and the ONLY people who would be able to tell this story with the authenticity and courage necessary were Black educators. Then I realized, there aren’t enough of us. I realized that it was a teachable moment for America and I needed to teach EVERYONE about the power, influence and impact of Black educators, because it is a story that has been untold.
There is research that shows ALL students have favorable perceptions of Black educators, which is a courageous idea that has been extremely taboo in elite educational settings. It was imperative to break out of the monotonous and confining rhetoric that Black educators only impact Black and Brown students, by illustrating how our authenticity and diverse experiences permeate the student experience and create opportunities to cultivate multi-faceted learners. Uncovering this significant research motivated me to seek out opportunities that would allow me to share this information to the masses. My goal was to educate those who were unaware of the undeniable magic of Black educators and perpetuate some courageous, disruptive conversations.
I began talking to EJ Johnson, a Black male educator and documentarian, about the idea to create a film that would depict the journey of Black educators in Oak Cliff. He was excited about the possibilities a documentary of this magnitude could achieve. He shared with me how I could access The City of Dallas’s Culture of Value Grant to fund my project idea. EJ connected me to videographer Christian Clark because he believed he could share the story through his visual expertise. The three of us entered into a contract, I became an executive producer and From the Block was born!
The From the Block Documentary unleashes the stories of Black educators, students and community members along with Hispanic students, White students and educators as they discuss topics surrounding environmental trauma, White Privilege, and other challenges Black educators face and their natural abilities to navigate those spaces with fidelity and integrity. While filming, I learned that my place in education is unique and my work in Dallas’s 75216 zip code, one of its most impoverished areas, is unprecedented because my impact has extended beyond Black students and educators. I have disrupted many historical racial structures by developing my White students and peers, exponentially, through authentic sharing and teaching experiences that they might not otherwise have.
As I continue to work on the diversification of America’s educator pipeline, I know that there is so much work to be done. The country, the Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, and the state education commissioners MUST utilize their effective Black teachers to create concepts and strategies that will eradicate systemic racist constructs that have intentionally stifled Black students and teachers. We owe it to ourselves to rebuild an anti-racist, cohesive, engaging school system that embraces ALL stakeholders because it has been created to support the needs of its most marginalized groups: Black teachers and students. To continue to support and retain the most effective Black educators, here is what school districts MUST be committed to doing:
Partner with Historically Black Colleges and Universities to identify keen educational talent in their respected education programs.
Dedicate resources and funding to diversifying the teacher pipeline by creating programs that effectively prepare Black teachers for licensure and eradicate the financial toll of certification for Black teachers.
Affirm the Black educators on your campus by honoring their diversity, creating opportunities for autonomy and cultivating leadership opportunities that will allow them to thrive outside of the classroom.
Use Black teachers as cultivators not disciplinarians. Provide opportunities for them to teach other educators their strategic methods to increase the capacity of all educators on campus.
Celebrate their authenticity. Allow their cultural characteristics to become a positive facet of the school environment.
Listen to what they say. Create safe, authentic spaces that are non-threatening and embracing of courageous and disruptive conversations that will educate and empower all educators.
Ensure the school milieu is anti-racist and any forms of racism are met with intentional consequences that force all stakeholders to educate themselves to prevent disrespectful discourse and interactions.
By taking these critical steps we can transform the trajectory of the educational landscape in America, especially for our most marginalized students. While we have the eyes, ears and hearts of most Americans open, we should empower them with knowledge and understanding. It is time for America’s educators to commit to constructing a diverse teacher pipeline that will ensure the success of every student across the United States.
Shareefah Mason is a 2018-19 Teach Plus DFW Senior Policy Fellow. Shareefah, a Distinguished Teacher and Ambassador in the Dallas ISD, a 2018-19 Teach Plus DFW Senior Policy Fellow and educator at Zumwalt Middle School . She has earned numerous awards, including high honors from the Dr. Tom and Betty Lawrence Foundation as runner up for the National History Teacher award and the Texas Sons of the American Revolution Teacher of the Year award winner in 2015. Shareefah has authored four books on education and presents at renowned educational conferences across the country. She earned her BA in Government from Nicholls State University and her Master’s of Organizational Management from University of Phoenix and is enrolled at California Coast University to pursue her Doctorate in Educational Leadership.