Teacher Truth Perspectives - Educator ReflectIONS
“TEACHER TRUTH IS ANCHORED IN THE IDEA OF HUMANIZING RESEARCH…
AND HONORING STORY AND VOICE.” - DR. TAMEKA MCGLAWN
In the words of Teacher Truth researcher, Dr. Britte Cheng, “We want to take leadership to help folks think about how to support those self-formed communities in educational systems so that we can actually provide successful, sustained supports for Black educators.” To that end, we’re sharing out resonant reflections from the people at the core of the work. Whether or not you were in attendance at our 3rd annual Perspectives event, and whether or not you’re a Black educator yourself, we hope you’ll find value in these reflections.
REFLECTIONS FROM BREANA CALLOWAY, TEACHER
When I tell people I'm teaching Black children on the south side of Chicago, they're like, “Oh, how do you do that every single day?” The racial battle fatigue is very real. But for me, I always say it's an honor to teach Black children. They bring me the greatest joy.
My thing is to change the narrative surrounding Black children. The deficit mindset is a challenge because when you're in meetings and you're looking at the data, it's like, "The Black and Brown children are underperforming compared to their counterparts." How can I change this narrative? What can we further do? I'm working with gifted Black children, and that is helping me to shift my narrative myself so that I can further shift other people's narrative of Black children and their academic ability.
I don't want to take on the urgency because it's not with intention. So for me, really looking at the teachings of other Black women, specifically Tricia Hersey with The Nap Ministry and how to slow down and be intentional, that's something that I've really been pushing. I have coined myself a well-rested Black woman, so I'm really pushing against some of the urgency and the focus on being productive.
