Journal of a Black Teacher

By Don Allen, Journal of A Black Teacher (2024) Lexile Level explanation  - parent guide (MDE) In fact, phonemic awareness development might be quite tough for underserved students in the Twin Cities and even within Black and Brown communities due to a generational achievement gap and inequity that exist in our educational systems. Many students in these communities come from generations of individuals who have not been in a place to support their own students due to socio-economic barriers: underfunded schools, large student-to-teacher ratios, and a lack of early childhood education opportunities. Often, this gap leaves parents unable to provide the resources needed for their children's literacy development. Phonemic awareness perhaps is the most critical requisite for early reading, dependent on rich, language-based environments that may not have been consistently provided to under-served students at home or via school experiences. Other disadvantages that can also counter these

“A simple question deserves a simple answer.” By Don Allen, Journal of a Black Teacher (2024) ( Photo :  Dr. Boyce Watkins X feed; Fair Use) The erosion of our social structures concerning Black children is a topic that consistently sparks my curiosity. I often find myself contemplating the reasons behind this decline and the impact it has on our communities. About four years ago, I began to delve deeper into my readings. I realized that the issues affecting the Twin Cities could potentially arise in other cities, and local communities had to find ways to restore collaboration and human capital to enhance the city for the betterment of local businesses, neighborhoods, and, most importantly, the people. However, I couldn't comprehend the exposure of our 12-16-year-old children to adult situations while exploring downtown with the same level of enthusiasm as adults. Though it may not be a popular question, the most crucial one that demands an immediate answer is: where are the parent

  By Don Allen (Editorial Opinion) Journal of A Black Teacher (2024)       The landmark decision of  Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954 is often awkwardly celebrated as a monumental victory in the struggle for civil rights and social justice in the United States. By declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, the Supreme Court set the stage for the desegregation of American society, promoting equality in education. However, while the decision was a significant step forward in many respects, it also had unintended and adverse consequences for Black educators, which continue to resonate in 2024. This paper aims to meet the assignment prerequisites by exploring the connections between the policy established by Brown vs. Board and the social justice issue of the marginalization and displacement of Black teachers, highlighting the complex interplay between legal reforms and their social impact.       Brown vs. Board of Education consolidated five separate cases chall

By Don Allen (Editorial Opinion) - Journal of A Black Teacher (2024) In education, data speaks volumes, yet it’s often met with silence. Teachers, administrators, and policymakers stand at a crossroads when using data to drive decisions. Schools are rich in one crucial resource: children. The talent we have in our students is immeasurable. They are our society's future thinkers, creators, and leaders, and we are fortunate to be surrounded by this talent daily. But what happens when school sites and districts don’t listen to the data, refusing to acknowledge where the challenges lie? How can we possibly nurture this talent if we don’t understand the obstacles in their way? This article explores the consequences of neglecting data and how the lack of collective determination in favor of individual agendas stifles growth and progress. Despite the immense talent within our classrooms and the available resources — human capital, expertise, and technology — our schools still struggle. Th

 By Don Allen (Editorial Opinion) - Journal of A Black Teacher The landmark decision of Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954 is often awkwardly celebrated as a monumental victory in the struggle for civil rights and social justice in the United States. By declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, the Supreme Court set the stage for the desegregation of American society, promoting equality in education. However, while the decision was a significant step forward in many respects, it also had unintended and adverse consequences for Black educators, which continue to resonate today. This paper aims to meet the assignment prerequisites by exploring the connections between the policy established by Brown vs. Board and the social justice issue of the marginalization and displacement of Black teachers, highlighting the complex interplay between legal reforms and their social impact. (Photo: Artist-Unknown)  Brown vs. Board of Education consolidated five separate

By Don Allen, Journal of A Black Teacher (Editorial Opinion) The Minnesota Department of Education's Grow Your Own programs are innovative and needed ventures laid out to cater to the reality of teacher shortages and to develop a teaching career workforce that is diverse and highly qualified. Though these kinds of programs generally target both high school dropouts and paraprofessionals for the project, there is still a solid argument to begin real GYO programs as early as middle school. Beginning GYO initiatives in middle school can harness the formative nature of these years, providing a solid foundation for future educators and addressing critical educational challenges. How do district leaders Identify and cultivate an interest in teaching? Middle school is a formative stage for scholars regarding their interests or the road to their future careers. With this program, the Minnesota Department of Education will be better prepared to identify students already interested in teachi

At the end of the day, a face-to-face conversation over a cup of coffee or dinner is better than posting on social media; let us be very clear, it’s entertainment - but for some, it’s a lifestyle, unfortunately. By Don Allen, Journal of A Black Teacher (Editorial Opinion)  Comedian Katt Willams (in one of his stand-up acts) said, “I’ve never seen so many influencers on social media who don’t influence anything.” Undeniably, social media has the ability to keep people in contact with their past. In a way, it works digitally just like the scrapbook—saving moments of our lives and letting us relive them at will. Beyond personal memory, social platforms become vehicles for historical narratives. Any given day could bring out threads about the civil rights movement, posts marking a special historic event, or even simply a viral tweet citing one of the major leaders, for example, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Encounters of this sort could sometimes be educational and informative in the sense th