About AAMA
The Office of African American Male Achievement (AAMA) was launched in 2019 to reconstruct Seattle Public Schools as a school system that intentionally cultivates the strengths of Black boys and teens. AAMA was created to dismantle the anti-Black institutional and structural racism that exists within school systems, and by working with SPS’ Black boys and teens, AAMA creates new educational systems, structures, and spaces that liberate and guarantee success for them.
“I feel like you learn better with your culture. You learn better with the people you’re most familiar with. I should be able to be comfortable to ask you questions that I know you can relate to.
“I haven’t had a lot of those teachers that I can really relate to. Sure, you’ve been in certain predicaments that may be like me, but do you live this everyday struggle of really being a dark-skinned man? I just want to learn from who I’m most familiar with.”
– Black Male Student, Seattle
African American Male Advisory Committee
The office of African American Male Achievement was produced by the work of the African American Male Advisory Committee. The committee was tasked with making an in-depth review of the issues surrounding African American male educational achievement. Comprising of community members, professionals, and SPS employees, AAMAC served to ensure there was authentic community engagement in the project. Their contributions showed the importance of community input and set the standard for community engagement in our office.
Insights
This work made it clear that community and family input must live at the center of our strategy. To stay true to our vision and honor the voices of Black male students and their families, we began our Listen and Learn forums.
Listen and Learn Forum
AAMA launched our Listen and Learn forum series in February 2021 to continue to listen to Black families and students as we reconstruct our educational system to celebrate the brilliance and excellence of Black boys and teens. We hosted six family forums and many student forums. Family and student voices will help build the office’s intentional, long-term plan.
Themes from Listen and Learn Forums
AAMA will publish and share the findings with our larger community – including professional development for staff – later this year. These findings can help guide the district in centering the voices of our Black families and students in in school instruction and beyond. In the interim, the main themes from our Listen and Learn Forums as they relate to the four priorities of Seattle Excellence are as follows…
- School environments that are joyful, emotionally and physically safe, and work to dismantle anti-Black racism in adult attitudes and policies.
- Instruction centering Black education & identity affirmation, is engaging and uses critical pedagogy, and recognizes individual needs and prepare students for life beyond high school.
- Adult relationships focused on high expectations, deep care and accountability, Black educator representation as advocates and mentors and spaces to cultivate strong peer relationships and brotherhood.
- Family and community engagement that is restorative, builds trust and leverages community assets.