When I was 14, I watched the movie A Soldier’s Story. The lead character was played by the late Howard E. Rollins. That Rollins character played a pivotal part in my life. That role and that man, led to my love of the English language and decision to attend Howard University, where I majored in English and minored in Journalism.
At The Mecca, I was introduced to Black and brown students from across the African diaspora and that ignited a passion to learn about different cultures and experiences. It’s still one of the best decisions I ever made.
I never intended to become a teacher. I fell into the profession because I was a young, broke graduate student at Howard University and the District of Columbia needed young African-American males. Surprisingly, I was selected and placed at a high performing school on Capitol Hill. That experience taught me about the importance of having folks pour good teaching and learning strategies into you.
My next 3 years afforded me the opportunity to teach at a multi-cultural school and a school of the arts. Valuable lessons were learned from each stop. Lessons that have only served to reinforce my lifelong commitment to education and making certain that I work daily to provide opportunities to all learners, regardless of culture, race, gender, or financial status.