Season 1 Episode 102
Identity Talk Consulting: Kwame Sarfo-Mensa
“Stay true to the teacher in you.”
Kwame Sarfo-Mensa
Math Teacher, Tutor, Mentor, Founder: Identity Talk Consulting
@kwam_the_identity_shaper
“If we’re really going to talk about anti-racism, we need to commit to proactive and continuous capacity building.”
Have you ever thought of education as healing work? As an educator for the last 15 years, Mr. Kwame Sarfo-Mensa utilizes his youthful spirit and commitment to the community to actively bring joy into the lives of the children he serves. This week, we learn about his origin story, how he navigated his childhood in Connecticut and Ghana, and how he utilizes his lived experiences to support educators in developing their practice.
“Read the books, but look in the notes section, that’s the gateway to building your knowledge.”
Kwame breaks down the state of education in Black America (and schools us on the Saving American History Act of 2020), calls out the testing companies that capitalize off of the white washing of teacher education, and asks “whose voices are being centered?” He also shares lots of resources and recommendations for educators, including James Baldwin’s “A Talk to Teachers”. He’s trying to dismantle the white supremacist norms which influence the way that educators teach. Once you get informed, that’s when the unlearning starts to happen.
His advice to educators: Rethink pedagogy. Remix teacher education. Learn your teacher identity.
Have a story to share?
the goal of the 500 project is to share thought provoking, hilarious, vulnerable and empowering look into the chaos behind the classroom, the challenges of the industry, and the journey of an educator. click below to share your story.