Hello all!! My name is John W. Washington and I’ve been a member of TABSE since 1988 and I joined NABSE in 1990. I have been fortunate to start two affiliates, the first was the Lubbock Area Alliance of Black School Educators in 1994 and the second one, the Garland Area Alliance of Black School Educators in 2002.
I was President of TABSE from 2012-14 following Dr. Elaine Bailey. I’ve traveled the state of Texas installing affiliates just as Johnny Appleseed did in planting trees. If I did not make a personal appearance to install officers with our Executive Director Ms. Phyllis Williams, we installed them via Zoom during our Covid-19 Pandemic Era. That’s a snapshot of me and my involvement and continuous support and my strong belief in TABSE and the Affiliates that support the mission and goals of this outstanding organization. I am now retired after serving students in three different school districts in Texas (Garland, LaMarque and Lubbock) for 40 years of service in the public school sector.
I’ve worn many hats starting as a Middle School teacher/coach, High School teacher/coach, H.S. Assistant Principal, Elementary Principal, Middle School Principal, Director of HR, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent. With that bit of background about me let me share my thoughts for future Educators as they become true advocates for all students with a emphasis on students of African American decent.
This next generation of educators will be standing on the shoulders of men and women that had to discuss issues concerning minority students in tight circles and in silos. The table has been set to have those Courageous Conversations about what efforts are being made for equal opportunities and equal assess for children that resemble us. As America begins to understand that Black Lives Matter in our city streets as well as in our classrooms across America, we must continue to be positive role models for children and never give up loving students daily. Show sympathy and even empathy towards students that education is the passport to a better life and in making an individual realize that there is a bright productive future for them, only if they apply themselves daily to create a better “You” in the process.
A lot of us came from humble beginnings and we should share those personal stories letting students know that the process is a day-to-day thing and the goal is to be better today than they were the day before. Become advocates for them when other teachers lack the love for them. Talk to your colleagues about better understanding our students of color, using the old but true adage, “a student does not care how much you know, until they know how much you care”. You will see the change in students when you become a teacher that’s loving and caring. Please be consistent and model the appropriate behaviors especially when the environment is intense. Be fair and consistent when dealing with students. Talk over discipline and behaviors and always tell them the next step if inappropriate behaviors continue. Involve parents and garner their support.
As I circle back, please forgive my digression of my main topic, but my old classroom management lessons had to come out and I could not bypass the opportunity to share a few Pearls of Wisdom that were shared with me by those whom I emulated and I used as role models.
One of the TABSE well known Past Presidents, Dr. Kimberly McLeod hammered a very realist phrase during her tenure as president
. ”Either you have a seat at the table or you will find yourself on the menu.” Stop and internalize that statement. You will realize that the time has come for us to have the seat at the table to be in the forefront of the conversation. Ask or inquire about what are we doing for students of African American decent? What can we do as a team or an organization to improve our reading and math scores, graduation rate, decrease our dropout rate, improve our ACT/SAT entrance exam scores. You, no longer have to whisper among close friends and associates, we are now informed and we must have those Courageous Conversations and approach those issues realistically. Plan a strategy with sincere buy-in of the process and keep it in the forefront of conversations. We must do our individual and/or collective best to bring Equity and Equality for ALL not just a few. Our minority students need you daily to bring out their best. Celebrate the big milestones and tell students your honest opinions about their concerns. If it’s not up to par or to a certain standard, tell them and provide a playbook or a blue print of what you want to achieve to bring about success for them.
In closing, let me say to the TABSE membership, that our organization is the vehicle to drive home those points aforementioned. It’s going to take all of us working toward a common goal to improve the status of public school education. I’m going to paraphrase an old Baptist church saying, modified for this particular article….”If every member in TABSE was a member just like me, what would TABSE be? I am the answer and truly know what I can do to make a difference in all the lives that God has entrusted me to touch!!”
I want to thank our Historian Mr. Melvin Guider for this opportunity to share a little about myself and my involvement with our State organization of the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators. May God Bless You and the students and parents that we serve.
