Black History Month 2025 | E4E-MN Educator Spotlight

1. Name: Susan Providence

2. Role: Special Ed Teacher at Capitol Hill St. Paul (and NTLC member!)

3. E4E-Chapter: E4E-Minnesota

4. Why is it important in 2025 to support Black educators in the classroom?

Supporting Black educators in the classroom is crucial because representation matters. When students see educators who look like them, it helps them feel valued and understood. This connection can inspire them to reach their full potential and believe in their own possibilities. It also gives students role models to aspire to, showing them that they too, can succeed and achieve great things. In 2025, fostering diverse educators creates a more inclusive and empowering learning environment for all students.

5. Who is a Black figure in your life that has inspired you?

My father has been a major source of inspiration in my life. He grew up in the Caribbean, losing his father at a young age and being raised by his mother. Despite these challenges, he was determined to succeed. When he moved to the Virgin Islands, he completed his education. Later, when the company he worked for was sold, my father bought the business, using the only asset he had at the time—his house. He also raised six children, ensuring that all of us graduated from college. Beyond his professional and personal achievements, my father is the spiritual leader of our family, living a life of integrity and dedication that we all strive to emulate.

6. What is your favorite quote from a Black figure in history?

“And ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man—when I could get it—and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman?” – Sojourner Truth