University of Pittsburgh
July 8, 2013

How to Best Educate African American Males

Teachers and school principals from throughout the region to gather at Pitt to strategize on how to help Black male students
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PITTSBURGH—An all-day summit aimed at exploring the best ways to educate African American male students will take place July 10 at the University of Pittsburgh’s University Club, 123 University Place, Oakland.

“A Call to Conscience: Effective Policies and Practices in Educating African American Males” will be hosted by the University of Pittsburgh’s Center on Race and Social Problems, part of Pitt’s School of Social Work. The by-invitation-only event is sponsored by The Heinz Endowments. Media coverage is welcome. 

Close to 200 participants—teachers and principals from throughout the region—will identify challenges with educating young Black men, explore factors that contribute to those challenges, and discuss action that can be taken to improve the situation. They will also consider the establishment of a formal collaborative effort that would examine and work on the problem from a broader perspective.

The day’s agenda will include the following lectures and discussions.

9 a.m.
Keynote Address
John H. Jackson, president and CEO of the Schott Foundation for Public Education, leads the foundation’s efforts to ensure a high quality public education for all students, regardless of race or gender. Prior to this post, he served as a policy officer and national director of education for the NAACP. He also is a faculty member at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute and served on President Barack Obama’s 13-member Education Policy Transition Work Group.

10:30 a.m.
Panel: Superintendents of Large City School Districts
Linda Lane, Pittsburgh Public Schools; and
Jerry Weast (retired), Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland.

1 p.m.
Panel: Superintendents of Suburban Districts
Tim Gabauer, McKeesport Area School District;
Archie D. Perrin, Wilkinsburg School District;
Alan Johnson, deputy superintendent, Woodland Hills; and
Jeremy Resnick, Propel Schools.

2:30 p.m.
Discussion: Where should Pittsburgh-area schools go from here?
Facilitator: Marcia Sturdivant, president and CEO, Negro Education and Emergency Drive.

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7/8/13/mab/cjhm