recruit • engage • develop
%
% Black Male Educators in American Teaching Force
to DRASTICALLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BLACK MALE EDUCATORS AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING IN CLASSROoms.
The effect of having a Black male teacher, especially between grades 3 – 5, decreases the dropout rate among Black male students by nearly 40%, and increases the likelihood of black students being recognized as gifted students or aspiring to higher education .
(The IZA – Institute of Labor Economics)

“It’s important for children [of all backgrounds] to see black males in their lives, especially on a daily basis, who are in respectable positions of authority.”
HOW WE GET THERE
RECRUIT
Black men represent only 2% of the national teaching force, although children of color make up the majority of the American school population. Prioritizing the recruitment and onboarding of Black male educators
ENGAGE
Nationally, Black male and culturally responsive educators leave their schools and profession at higher rates than their counterparts. We help schools and administrators develop and implement engagement and retention strategies.
DEVELOP
Research indicates that efforts to develop and invest in the Black male and culturally responsive teaching force are the most effective retention methods for Black and culturally responsive educators
PROGRAMS & SOLUTIONS
Professional Development with School Partners
BMEA offers a Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) workshop, with the purpose of building participants’ capacity in activating CRT practices, which nurture various cultural learning styles, rather than learning deficits, & support students as they grow as independent & confident learners
Early Career Teacher Fellowship (ECTF)
First through third-year Black male educators focused on addressing first-year challenges, including: unpacking and planning a CRT lesson, managing and prioritizing parent/family relationships, and the true emphasis for instruction.
Black Male Educators Fellowship (BME)
A cohort of Black male educators with their work to engage young men of color in positive and effective learning experiences with new tools and methods that draw from best practices in leadership, instruction, culturally responsive teaching and design thinking
Lifting Our Voices podcast
Regular engagement with Black male educators and CRT professionals on related topics, like education policy, pedagogy, recent reform efforts, professional development, and career spotlights.
Events
Annual or quarterly convening events
About Us
Black Male Educators Alliance of Michigan (BMEA) is a collective of educators, mentors, community leaders, and other professionals who believe that strong Black male educators are essential to transforming our education system. Recognizing that there are institutional impediments to diversity in the education profession, our mission is to increase and strengthen the community of Black male educators in Michigan classrooms to improve educational experiences and outcomes for all children.