Philly’s Freedom Schools Literacy Academy wants to build a national pipeline of Black teachers

The Center for Black Educator Development’s (CBED) Freedom Schools Literacy Academy is a four-week paid apprenticeship summer program designed to inspire high school and college students of color to pursue careers in teaching and education advocacy. “Our mission is to rebuild a national Black teacher pipeline right here in my beloved Philadelphia,” said Sharif El-Mekki, founder of CBED. Two decades ago, Ariel Lajara participated in the Freedom Schools Literacy Academy. Now an assistant superintendent at the School District of Philadelphia, Lajara continues to praise the program: “I am a byproduct of this program. The passion, the desire, the burning desire to be a good educator was born in the Freedom School program.” The program, which is “steeped in Black culture, history, and pedagogy,” aspires to build a Black teacher pipeline nationwide.