Black male educators inspire students to follow in their footsteps WSOC TV [Video]

CHARLOTTE — Channel 9′s Jonathan Lowe spoke with local Black male educators hoping that they inspire others to follow their career paths.

The percentage of Black men educators has been on the decline in recent years in the U.S.

The National Teacher and Principal Survey found the number of public school teachers who were Black for the 2020-2021 school year was 1.3%, which is down from 6.5% the previous year.

That’s even though Black children accounted for 15% of public school students.

“I did not have any Black male teachers,” said Tony Jenkins, an English Language Arts teacher at Renaissance West STEAM Academy. “I had one. He was my gym teacher in the fourth grade but not core academics.”

There was little representation for young Black students.

“I did not,” said LeShawn Starling, who teaches math, science, and social studies at Hornets Nest Elementary School. “I had one teacher that made an impression on me. Ms. Cunningham.”

Starling pointed out that what a teacher …