Black Male Teacher Initiative Consortium | Bowie State

The Black Male Teacher Initiative Consortium (BMT-IC) is a union of initiatives, organizations, and institutions formed with the goal and objective of working together to pool our resources to recruit, retain, support, and empower Black male educators at all levels educationally and professionally throughout their trajectory. The Consortium is a collaborative and supportive space for initiatives, organizations, and institutions that focus on Black male educators to work together and support one another to advance Black male educators. The consortium membership is comprised of the following organizations:

• The Building Our Network of Diversity (BOND) Project

• Male Educator of Network (MEN) of Prince George’s County Public Schools

• National Association of Black Male Educators (NABME)

• Montgomery College Black Alliance for Transformational Leadership (BATL)

• Nylinka School Solutions

• Bowie State University Center for Research and Mentoring of Black Male Students and Teachers

• University of Maryland Baltimore County Sherman STEM Teacher Scholars Program

The initial BMT-IC meeting included Doug Handy from Baltimore County Public Schools, who continues to be an active member and thought partner. The Consortium supported and partnered with new institutions, organizations, initiatives, and individuals committed to advancing Black male educators. Several organizations and individuals have been active contributors to the Consortium:

• Devan James, Desvan Moody, Breon Blount

• Baltimore County Public Schools: Homer McCall, Brendan Penn

• Bowie State University: Derrick Coley

• Fairfax County Public Schools: Dean Brooks

New partners will be added to the BMT-IC membership on an ongoing basis. The Consortium met the third Thursday of the month to work on behalf of Black male educators.

The BMT-IC will focus on three main goals: recruitment, retention/persistence, and development. The Consortium will recruit, retain, and develop quality and effective Black male educators that build meaningful relationships with students, contribute to students' academic and social development, and impact student learning.

• Goal 1: The BMT-IC will focus on recruiting young Black boys and men in middle and high schools, teacher education (high school, undergraduate, and graduate), alternative certification, and educational leadership programs and into the profession.

• Goal 2: The BMT-IC will focus on the retention[1] and persistence[2] of Black male adolescents and adults in teacher education, alternative certification, and educational leadership programs, school systems, affinity organizations, and the teaching profession.

• Goal 3: The BMT-IC will work to develop Black male educators through professional development, teacher education, alternative certification, and educational leadership programs, career ladder preparation, conferences, and scholarly work.

[1] The BMT-IC defines retention as Black boys and men staying in the same teacher education, alternative certification, and educational leadership programs, school system, and affinity organization.

[2] Persistence is defined as Black boys and men continuing in education programs, the profession, and educator affinity groups in another institution or organization.