Sharif El-Mekki, African American Education, Black Education, Black Teachers, Black Male Teachers, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMN

He seeks more black men to teach in Philly and beyond – Philly.com

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He seeks more black men to teach in Philly and beyond – Philly.com


Sharif El-Mekki vividly recalls every black male teacher who ever taught him: two in elementary school, two in high school.

“They were transformative figures in my life,” said El-Mekki, a veteran Philadelphia educator.
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For 2017, El-Mekki has a goal to organize 1,000 black men to show up for the first day of school, encouraging city youths to be their best.

By 2025, his goal is much loftier: to nearly triple the number of black men teaching in the city. To that end, he has launched the Fellowship: Black Male Educators for Social Justice.

Sharif El-Mekki, African American Education, Black Education, Black Teachers, Black Male Teachers, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMN

Sharif El-Mekki, African American Education, Black Education, Black Teachers, Black Male Teachers, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMN

Sharif El-Mekki, African American Education, Black Education, Black Teachers, Black Male Teachers, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMNPhoto | David Swanson / Staff Photographer



The United States Secretary of Education is the head of the U.S. Department of Education. The Secretary is the principal adviser to the President on federal policies, programs, and activities related to education in the United States. As a member of the President’s Cabinet, this Secretary is fifteenth in the United States presidential line of succession.

The United States Secretary of Education is a member of the President’s Cabinet, the fifteenth in the United States presidential line of succession. This Secretary deals with federal influence over education policy, and heads the U.S. Department of Education.

The Secretary is advised by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, an advisory committee, on “matters related to accreditation and to the eligibility and certification process for institutions of higher education.” (Wikipedia)