By Staci Smith
5/20/25 – As the school year ends, Crowns Curriculum facilitators and the Kingmakers Curriculum team gathered for a powerful end-of-year reflection. The session was a celebration of growth, resilience, and the transformative impact of culturally responsive teaching.
Facilitators shared personal journeys—some entering classrooms mid-year, others stepping into leadership roles for the first time. What united them was a commitment to building safe, empowering spaces where Black students are seen, heard, and valued.
Despite burnout, shifting school conditions, and personal challenges, facilitators spoke of what kept them going: the students. Whether it was a young King stepping up as a peer leader or a Queen finding her voice and confidence, these stories reminded everyone why this work matters.
Relationship-building emerged as a powerful theme. Facilitators described going beyond their own classroom—checking grades, connecting with families, and creating support systems that showed students they are deeply cared for. Several shared how culturally grounded rituals and content—like Ubuntu or African empires before colonization—sparked pride and curiosity in students.
One facilitator said it best: “The kids are going through so much, and yet they keep showing up. That teaches me to do the same.”
Looking ahead, facilitators expressed a desire to deepen their own learning—especially around pre-colonial African history, the legacy of Black women leaders, and strategies for making the curriculum more inclusive for all students.
The PLC closed with gratitude and affirmation. Educators lifted one another up, celebrated student wins, and recommitted to the work.
The Crowns Curriculum is more than a class—it’s a movement. A community of educators building cultural pride, emotional strength, and academic confidence—one classroom at a time.
