At P.R.I.D.E., our goal is to not only help children at home by reaching parents and caregivers, but in schools. So we set out to find teachers who were interested in learning more about how to incorporate racially responsive teaching practices in the classroom. Applications poured in from all over the region, with educators ranging from childcare providers to longtime Pittsburgh Public School teachers eager to jump at the opportunity to further their own professional development. “That school is not always a place where Black students feel safe, prideful, engaged, loved, and cared for is a huge disservice to my students and their families,” said one applicant. “I want to do everything that I can to ensure that my classroom is a place where my students’ growth, development, and learning are enhanced, rather than hindered.”

In April, we finalized our cohort, choosing 13 educators from seven different schools, including Pittsburgh Faison K-5, the Environmental Charter School, Weil Elementary, the Ellis School, Miller African Centered Academy, and the Falk School. The cohort attended the P.R.I.D.E. Speaker Series featuring University of Pittsburgh School of Education Dean Dr. Valerie Kinloch and participated in a private follow-up session with Dr. Kinloch.

Over the course of the next year, the cohort will engage in online discussions, in-person meetings, academic lectures, and informal discussions about incorporating discussions of race into the classroom environment. 

For more information on the P.R.I.D.E. Teacher Cohort or if you are interested in participating in the 2019-2020 Cohort, please email racePRIDE@Pitt.edu.