Black History Month 2025 | E4E-New York Educator Spotlight

1. Name: Shaakira Johnson

2. Role: Third grade teacher

3. E4E-Chapter: E4E-New York

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

Supporting a diverse school community is critical to improving academic outcomes and school cultures. Research suggests having black teachers increases students’ likelihood of graduating by 7% and increases the likelihood of a student enrolling in college by 32%.

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

Dorothy Davis. As a teenager in segregated Farmville, Virginia, Dorothy was fed up with the poor conditions her and her classmates had to deal with coming to school each day. She organized a walk out during the school day to demand better conditions for the “colored school” she attended. As a high school student she went on to petition the court in Davis vs Prince Edward County, which later became part of Brown vs Board of Education. I am proud to call her my aunt.

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

“We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. It may even be necessary to encounter defeat, so that we can know who we are.” – Maya Angelou