How to Thrive When You’re the Only Black Teacher in Your School
Advisor Rachel Greene (far right) with Northwest High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members at a conference.
This is the second in a series of articles about the unique challenges teachers of color face and the many ways we - as fellow teachers, administrators, parents, and community members - can support them.
Rachel Greene is a typical first-year teacher in many ways. She is navigating the ins and outs of her school, getting to know her students, and planning lessons for the Business and AP™ Computer Science classes she teaches at Waukee Northwest High School in Waukee, IA. But she also faces a unique challenge: she is the only black teacher in her school.
“We are grades 10-12 and have just under 1,500 students,” she explained. “I have an administrator who is black, but I’m the only black teacher. In fact, there are less than 10 staff of color in the whole building.”
Waukee is a predominantly white community, and as a result, the students of color seek out Rachel because she is the only person in the building they feel they can connect with. Serving as a mentor and source of support for those students comes naturally to Rachel - she is a born leader and serves as the advisor to her school’s Black Student Union - but it does require extra energy.
If you’re the only teacher of color in your school - or one of very few - Rachel’s experiences and advice can help you thrive.
Remember why you got into teaching
This is true for all teachers, no matter their identity, but it is always a good touchstone to return to. Rachel has educators on both sides of her family, and she entered the profession after seeing the impact her relatives have made. “Former students still come up to my grandmother to say hi and thank her - decades later,” Rachel shared.
Focus on your students
As a teacher, Rachel makes it a point to see the kids as they are. “I’ve had students go through a lot of struggles, and I always think, ‘How can I help them gain the confidence and skills to do whatever is best for them post-high school?’ I want them to be prepared. That motivates me.”
She is currently seeking connections to those working in the industry. “I want a better understanding of the ‘why’,” she said. “I have two business degrees, but business is changing so quickly. I want to remain relevant and adaptable, and I want to help my students stay relevant and adaptable.”
Seek out mentors
Rachel is not participating in the ELP program, but she does have a few mentors: a general mentor for new teachers, a building mentor in her department, and a career and technical education (CTE) mentor. Even more importantly, she has sought out and been put in touch with other teachers of color who understand her and can provide support on a whole different level.
Kerisa Baedke and Rachel Greene
We were introduced to Rachel by Kerisa Baedke, a teacher of color we recently profiled in our blog post, How We Can Support Our Teachers of Color. Their first meeting lasted 3 ½ hours! As Kerisa said, “She just needed to see another person of color. She needed to be able to connect and reflect with someone who has perhaps gone through some of the same things and understand what she’s going through.”
That person may not be in your school, but your Local Association or District can help connect you.
Ask for help
“Ask for help when you need it,” Rachel advised. “I ask questions all the time. It sometimes feels that everything is hard all the time. And sometimes it will be really hard.
“If you feel like you’re going to have a breakdown, take a day off. I recently had one of the hardest weeks of my life so I took a mental health day. Administration reached out to me to make sure I was OK, and that meant a lot.”