Bowie State University has become the 1st HBCU to receive a $1.5M grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence program that will support the Bowie Black Male Educators Project.
The Black Male Educators Project aims to increase the number of black male teachers working with early childhood, elementary, secondary, and special education students and supplying them with the knowledge, understanding, and skills in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
The funding will support increased recruiting, faculty development, and curriculum program redesign, as well as prepare Black male educators working to become teachers.
“It’s no secret that Black male teachers are in short supply,” said Dr. Julius L. Davis, founding director of Bowie State’s Black Male Educators Project and College of Education professor.
“Blacks comprise 6 percent of all teachers and black men are less than 2 percent. This grant will enable us to recruit and prepare 50 Black male educators in early childhood/special education, elementary or secondary education who can provide culturally relevant instruction and work with students and families,” Dr. Davis added. “Through our program redesign, we’ll create a pathway for Black male teachers to become certified in ESOL to meet the changing demographics in our schools.”
A redesigned curriculum will include all teacher education programs at BSU and reflect up-to-date research in the areas of race, ethnicity, culture, language, disability, technology, and other experiential learning modes.
The university will also develop five ESOL courses that will be used to prepare teacher candidates to become certified in ESOL.
We’re at a Tipping Point in education and the need for black male teachers has never been greater.”
– Dr. Julius L. Davis, founding director of Bowie State’s Black Male Educators Project and College of Education professor.
“The Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Grant, along with our Black Male Teachers College Program, the Right to Passage Program for Boys at Annapolis Middle School, STEM programs, and other initiatives will further strengthen Bowie State’s position as a national leader in preparation black men strengthen teachers,” said Dr. Davis
