Holding a Mirror Up to Ourselves
Sharif El-Mekki is an award-winning educational leader in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Our conversation with him focuses on the importance of all of us holding up a mirror to ourselves to examine our racial and social biases, biases that hold others back. His work is raising vital questions and making valuable and needed contributions to the education of children of color, in particular, to allow them the opportunities they need to live fuller, fairer, freer lives. Sharif’s comments are challenging and motivating. They will cause you to examine your perspectives and beliefs. They will help us all to grow.
Show Notes
Sharif El-Mekki is the recipient of many education awards:
- several to Mastery Shoemaker, the school he led in Philadelphia, including a bronze medal in the U.S. News & World Report high school rankings, the Schools That Can School award, and two Effective Practice Incentive Community awards (Silver and Gold).
- Mastery Shoemaker ranked as the 7th-best high school for Black student achievement in Top 10 Schools Report Card.
- Sharif himself is the second prize winner of TheBestSchools.org’s 2017 Escalante-Gradillas Prize for Best in Education.
In 2014, Sharif co-founded The Black Male Educators for Social Justice Fellowship to inspire new generations of Black men to work for social justice through teaching. During his career, Sharif has served as a U.S. Department of Education Principal Ambassador Fellow and America Achieves Fellow. In addition, he received citations from the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives. Sharif blogs at Philly’s 7th Ward and serves on the Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on African American Males as well as Excellent Schools PA. He is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Cheyney University.
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