Posted on June 23, 2022 by Christopher Reichert
The Department of Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Sexuality Studies will be hosting the third annual African American Studies Teachers’ Academy virtually June 29-30 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The Academy is part of a statewide move to adopt African American Studies into Texas schools and is targeted primarily to 9 th -12 th grade teachers.
Since its inception in 2020, the Academy has been held virtually. Although initially stemming from COVID-19 restrictions, the online format also allows teachers from outside the San Antonio community to participate without necessitating travel, explains Jasmine Harris, Ph.D., program coordinator for African American Studies.
“Being online means that the teachers who participate in this don’t have to be in San Antonio,” she said. “Having it online allows us to extend our reach in a way we couldn’t if it was only in person.”
Nor is access merely a matter of geography. The target audience is teachers in grades 9-12 – with attending teachers able to earn two continuing education credit hours – but the Academy is not limited to teachers.
“The audience is anyone who’s interested in African American studies and the application of African American Studies in classrooms,” she said, “whether that’s K-12, higher education, or personal or professional interest.”
“The audience is anyone who’s interested in African American studies and the application of African American Studies in classrooms,” she said, “whether that’s K-12, higher education, or personal or professional interest.”
For those who attend, the Academy will feature four sessions per day, with three being led by UTSA faculty, and the fourth by community guest speakers. This year’s guest speakers include Brandi Coleman, the founder and CEO of The Lemonade Circle, an organization dedicated to empowering young women of color. Also speaking are Naderia Hartley and Ruby Bible, both of whom are professional school counselors; Hartley is also the graduate administrative assistant for the African American Studies program, and a Ph.D. student at UTSA.
Presenting UTSA faculty include Mario Salas, a professor in the Political Science Department, Marc Perry, an associate professor in the REGSS Department, and Charles Gentry, a lecturer in the Department of History. By utilizing both UTSA professors and community members, the Academy can offer not only broadly applicable content, but also that which is specific to San Antonio.
“I think that participants will find the workshops to be engaging in their topical focus, but also intriguing in their personal connections to the city where the academy is taking place,” Harris said.
All these factors, from the ease of access to the scope of material, ensure the Academy is an event people won’t want to miss.
“If people are looking for a place to get unbiased information, this is absolutely the workshop to attend.”
“It’s really difficult in 2022 to get clear, articulate, engaging, and truthful information about the role of race in the United States today,” Harris said. “If people are looking for a place to get unbiased information, this is absolutely the workshop to attend.”
In the future, Harris hopes to make those personal connections an even more integral part of the Academy. She’s discussed partnering with the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum to incorporate local tours as an optional event for participants. Harris also would like to build on the interdisciplinary nature of the Academy.
“UTSA has a wealth of faculty across the colleges who have specialization in these areas who I think would be great fits,” she said.
Ultimately, she wants the African American Studies Teachers’ Academy to be sustainable and become a regular part of attendees’ summer plans.
“REGGS has a long history of these teachers’ academy,” she said. “The Mexican American Studies Teachers’ Academy has been really successful and popular, and we hope to follow in their footsteps and really make this sort of dual summer teachers’ academy, something that the REGGS department is known for amongst teachers in the state and that they continue to want to work with and learn from in the coming years.”
The 2022 African American Studies Teachers’ Academy will take place June 29-30 from 9:30-12:30 . Registration for the two-day workshop is $100 per participant.
To register visit bit.ly/aas-ta22 .
— Christopher Reichert
