Educating Boys of Color: What We Know Works

Boys of color spend the majority of their K–12 education under cross-cultural and cross-gender instruction and supervision. So how are educators learning about the unique experiences of male learners, especially boys of color? In this session, Dr. Howard will scratch the surface of the all-too-common narratives about boys of color in our schools. He will teach about the necessary shifts in thinking, instruction, and engagement to create welcoming and inclusive spaces for our boys.

Daryl Howard, Ph.D. is an equity instructional specialist in Montgomery County Public Schools whose work and research interests include race and cultural proficiency, social emotional learning, and the triumphs and challenges of African American male students. As the recent chair of Maryland’s State Department of Education’s Advisory Council on Equity and Excellence for Black Boys, he researched and recommended policy and practice to disrupt harmful narratives, decrease disproportionality and elevate achievement. Howard is co-director of the Building our Network of Diversity (BOND) Project, where he leads initiatives focused on the recruitment, development and retention of male educators of color, as well as the empowerment of underserved male students. Howard lectures on the topics of race, sociology, and education at McDaniel and Prince George’s Community Colleges and is the author of Complex People: Insights at the Intersection of Black Culture and American Social Life. Dr. Howard has been recognized by numerous universities and community groups and has received awards for his service and efforts for social change. He shares his life with his lovely wife and three amazing daughters.