Post by Teachers in Their Power

(3/9) “There are a few people who inspired me to become an educator, but none more than Mr. Authur Washington, my band director from fifth grade through twelfth grade — who now serves as principal of the high school we attended. Mr. Washington was the model father that we all yearned to have; when I say us, I mean my friends and my twin brother. Mostly, in our households, we didn’t have that male figure. Mr. Washington was that male figure for us. He was there for us as we matured, from fifth grade through high school and even through college — he’s the one who drove my twin brother up to Howard University. Watching him go through his challenges, but still keep focused on serving us and also serving his family, showed us what it looks like to be the kind of Black father we often don’t see in our neighborhood. Mr. Washington taught us far more than music. He taught us what leadership, consistency, and service looked like. He celebrated our birthdays, encouraged us when we struggled, and showed up for us every single day. Watching him lead students while caring for his own family gave us a model of excellence that challenged many of the stereotypes we often saw in the media. He showed us that Black men could lead with strength, compassion, and integrity. One of the greatest gifts he gave us was exposure. Through the band, we traveled across the country and around the world. My first plane ride was with our band. We performed throughout the United States, visited the Bahamas, traveled to Trinidad and Tobago, and even to South Africa. Those experiences taught us that our dreams didn’t have to be limited by our ZIP code. Mr. Washington believed every student deserved to see a world bigger than the one they grew up in. He expanded our horizons long before I realized how important that was. Today, I strive to do the same for my students — because great teachers don’t just prepare students for the next test; they prepare them for a bigger future.” –Caleb Franklin Teacher at Friendship Public Charter School City Teaching Alliance Fellow, Cohort 2021 Washington, DC #teachersintheirpower #mentorship #blackmaleeducators #rolemodel teachersintheirpower.com