Amidst growing concerns over racialized education, an activist close to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is leading a non-profit that promotes Black teachers for Black students and has received $20 million in funding from notable donors, including Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Nike.
Sharif El-Mekki, a former teacher and principal, founded the Center for Black Educator Development (CBED) with the mission to increase the number of Black teachers in schools. El-Mekki, who serves as an adviser to Governor Shapiro, believes Black students should be taught by teachers of the same race.
Black Educator Non-Profit Receives Millions from Elite Donors Amidst Racialized Curriculum Calls
CBED has received substantial funding from elite donors. According to tax filings, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in 2020 and 2021. Other donors include Nike, the Bezos Family Foundation, the University of Pennsylvania School of Education, and the Philadelphia Health Department.
The non-profit's website envisions a world where "all Black students have access to high-quality, Black teachers" and where "all teachers demonstrate high levels of expertise in anti-racist mindsets." CBED's goal is to train teachers across the United States in "education activism," which it defines as a "commitment to liberation education."
Black Educator Non-Profit Receives Millions from Elite Donors Amidst Racialized Curriculum Calls
In collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, CBED developed "The Anti-Racist Guide to Teacher Retention." The guide defines education as "a political act" and states that "every lesson plan is a political document."
At a congressional hearing in September, El-Mekki advocated for rebuilding the "national Black teacher pipeline." He emphasized that Black teachers comprise only 7% of the teaching workforce and face systemic barriers that hinder their retention.
Black Educator Non-Profit Receives Millions from Elite Donors Amidst Racialized Curriculum Calls
In 2023, CBED trained 1,700 educators. El-Mekki's reported annual salary from the organization is $233,410.
El-Mekki has personal ties to activism. His parents were members of the Black Panthers, and he spent part of his childhood in Iran, where he praised the country's education system.
Concerns have been raised about the racialization of education curricula and the potential impact on fostering division among students. However, El-Mekki and CBED maintain that their work is essential for promoting equity and social justice.
