Pennsylvania high school history instructor named nation's Teacher of the Year A high school history teacher in Pennsylvania who helps students look inward to find their strengths and outward to find community has been named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year.

apnews.com/article/nati... high school history instructor named nation's Teacher of the Year

Rebuilding the Black Teacher Pipeline, for the Benefit of All Students Polly: Summer program gives African-American college and high school students real classroom experience at 4 Philadelphia schools and online.

Rebuilding the Black Teacher Pipeline, for the Benefit of All Students www.the74million.org/article/rebu...

As Trump attacks DEI, college diversity officers from across the country gather in Philly to find a path forward While Trump declared his administration “ended DEI” during his recent State of the Union address, the president of the association begged to differ. "What's happening is the work is being reshaped."

www.inquirer.com/education/na...

February 28, 2026. A statement from Sharif El-Mekki, founder and CEO of The Center for Black Educator Development: “Black educators are essential to educational excellence. Truth telling strengthens our democracy. Equity is not optional. It is our responsibility. The recent district court ruling protects educators’ livelihoods and their responsibility to teach honestly. At a time of severe teacher shortages, it sends a clear message. Educators can enter and remain in this profession bringing their full selves to the classroom and creating inclusive environments where every student belongs.” The Center's logo is included.

A victory for academic freedom.

This month, the U.S. Department of Ed's Feb 2025 "Dear Colleague" directive was permanently struck down.

CBED Founder & CEO @selmekki.bsky.social shares what this means: thecenterblacked.org/sharif-el-mekki-on-dei-r...

How to have a Perfect Philly Day, according to The Colored Girls Museum founder Vashti DuBois The Brooklyn-native's perfect day begins with Aretha Franklin and black coffee, courses through Philly's art galleries and thrift shops, and ends with dessert and levitating.

www.inquirer.com/arts/colored...

Big Tech says the quiet part out loud. They want you to be stupid. | Will Bunch Silicon Valley guru Alex Karp says the rise of AI will disadvantage women who vote Democratic. That’s what they’re going for.

www.inquirer.com/opinion/alex...

This Haverford teacher didn’t have Black role models in school. Now he’s a finalist for National Teacher of the Year. Leon Smith has taught at Haverford High School for 25 years and wants to help encourage more young people — especially Black men — to become teachers.

www.inquirer.com/education/ha...

If It Wasn’t AI, Who Put the N-Word in Google’s Push Alert? The tech giant says its BAFTA notification was just a system error.

On Tuesday, Google apologized for sending a push alert that included the N-word. Completely spelled out. Hard “er” and all. The tech giant says its BAFTA notification was just a system error. For Black people, that distinction doesn’t erase the harm.
wordinblack.com/2026/02/goog...

Our Children Are Not Your Problem Statement The school choice movement I want is rooted in success and excellence.

open.substack.com/pub/freedomt...

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream Speech’ wouldn’t be the same without a ‘bad dude’ from North Philly Lawyer and King's speechwriter Clarence B. Jones is a Philadelphian who is now the subject of Steph Curry's directorial debut coming soon to Netflix.

www.inquirer.com/arts/clarenc...

The hidden ICE blueprint that should horrify every American | Will Bunch An internal Department of Homeland Security document shows how ICE plans to cram thousands of detained human beings inside a Georgia warehouse.

www.inquirer.com/opinion/ice-...

What’s one way your school community supports students and staff observing Ramadan?

Share your approach to supporting students and colleagues during this important month. 💡

School librarians help children learn to love reading | opinion The state House of Representatives recently passed education bills that seek to improve reading outcomes among elementary school students.

"Once we ensure that students can read, we need to make sure students accidentally or intentionally fall in love with reading."

Teach Plus MA Policy Fellow Caroline Lovett shares how school librarians and staff can get students to become lifelong readers:
www.milforddailynews.com/story/opinio...

Sunset in Malibu. Large rocks jug the shoreline meeting the Pacific Ocean. Purple and pink skies usher in the evening

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.—Nelson Mandela

Pic of the day

#photography

This one hits hard.

A new streaming series tells the story of America through the lens of Philadelphia Mixing modern footage with historical recreation and more than 600 on-camera interviews, the series powerfully explores the history of America through the story of its birthplace.

www.inquirer.com/history/in-p...

Trump officials used AI to distort a photo of an anti-ICE activist. That’s not OK. | Jenice Armstrong Nekima Levy Armstrong wasn't crying when she was detained by ICE agents — but an AI meme posted by the White House made it look like she was. We can't keep normalizing this corrosive behavior.

www.inquirer.com/opinion/neki...

Dozens more drug, gun cases tied to cops who defenders say ‘lied’ are thrown out. Some sent people to prison for years. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are reviewing nearly 1,000 cases built on the testimony of three narcotics officers who officials say repeatedly gave false statements.

www.inquirer.com/crime/drug-c...

This image is a flyer for the Freedom Schools Literacy Academy. It features a group of four people sitting together at a table in a classroom, smiling and interacting. A chalkboard is visible in the background. The text reads, "We Are Hiring High School Students!" It invites current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in driving social change in the classroom for a summer opportunity. The Center for Black Educator Development logo is displayed. The application deadline is April 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.

SUMMER OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS: Applications are open for Summer 2026 #FreedomSchoolsLiteracyAcademy!

You can get paid to support literacy, build leadership skills, and explore teaching in Philly.
Apply now:
thecenterblacked.org/fsla-home/high-school-st...

#WeNeedBlackTeachers

Back To The Bird I Asked Elon's Robot How to Save Twitter From Itself

open.substack.com/pub/citizen/...

We were never wretched A few notes from the Blackprint 20, a family gathering in defense of the Black mind.

Mos de

open.substack.com/pub/citizen/...

African American personal faith and organized traditions have had historic impact | Opinion The history of faith in the African American community is not only about individual faith but also serves as a counter to the racism of religious communities in America.

www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...

Democracy, engineered in the Black Metropolis | Opinion From its earliest days, Black Philadelphia nurtured and exemplified the democratic ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence, while being denied the rights it ostensibly guaranteed.

www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...

Black media: Our voice is our most potent weapon and our most sacred sanctuary | Opinion Our ancestors didn’t just dream of a free press — they built one. We will continue using all of our platforms to center our history, culture, and community.

www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...

The fraught politics behind the creation of Black History Month | Solomon Jones By promoting the teaching of Black history, the scholar Carter G. Woodson sought to counter prevailing educational narratives that ignored the role of racism and wove a tapestry of whiteness.

www.inquirer.com/opinion/cart...

Will the Philadelphia Police Department ever be free of scandal? | Editorial A string of scandals is not the case of a few bad apples, as the police often like to claim. It points to a systemic problem that has undermined the department for decades.

www.inquirer.com/opinion/edit...

A not-‘toned down’ Trump regime prepares for ethnic cleansing in Ohio A plan for immigration raids this week on thousands of Haitians in Springfield, Ohio shows that nothing has changed.

www.inquirer.com/opinion/trum...

Slavery was central to the presidency, and the President’s House. | Opinion George Washington's home in Philadelphia stood on hallowed ground where the ideals of liberty were articulated alongside the daily practice of human bondage.

www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...

‘Stand up, fight back, and resist’: Activist who helped shape President’s House rallies new fight after the site was dismantled Michael Coard, an attorney and founding member of Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (ATAC), pledged to restore the slavery memorial at the President's House site.

www.inquirer.com/news/philade...

The slavery exhibits at the President’s House have been removed following Trump administration push President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordered content at national parks that “inappropriately disparage” the U.S. to be reviewed and potentially removed.

www.inquirer.com/politics/nat...