During my first year as a teacher in 2010, I was excited and determined to make a difference for my students! I had spent the previous four years working as a teaching assistant under the tutelage of phenomenal educators so when my time came, I was ready for the challenge!
My first year was off to a great start! I was enjoying my time with my students while being showered with praise from my principal and colleagues! When my principal offered me a contract extension to return next year. I can remember thinking, “I’ve arrived! I’ve made it!”
All my fortunes changed when my principal rescinded my contract extension and fired me at the end of the school year. The unexpected turn of events left me confused, betrayed, and dumbfounded because all school year long, I was getting praised by my students, my colleagues, and the principal who fired me.
If I was doing so poorly at my job, how come I wasn’t provided with the following:
- a performance improvement plan?
- a mentor teacher?
- a series of classroom observations & evaluations?
- constructive feedback from school leadership about my performance?
In the end, I wasn’t in a school environment that was designed for me to grow professionally as a teacher. Ten years later, I still reflect on that embarrassing moment in the principal’s office. Throughout my career, I’ve witnessed countless first year teachers go through the same struggles as I did during my first year. And then it dawned on me, “How are first year teachers expected to thrive in the classroom if they aren’t receiving proper mentorship and support from their school leaders?”
It was at that moment that I decided to created the Shaping the Teacher Identity 101 program as a response to combat high teacher turnover rates and increase teacher retention rates in school districts worldwide.
What is STTI 101 ABAR Edition?
Here are the testimonials from some of our
most successful educators....
Frantz, License Guided Counselor
"Before meeting Kwame, I was considering leaving education, and started to lose my passion. But from taking his online course, I went from "Inaction to 'In Action'" right afterwards. I pushed myself harder than I thought I could and I've passed both my licensure exams. I am officially a licensed guidance counselor, and now I'm interviewing for the job I wanted. I've also brought resources to help bring diversity to the district. Thank you!"
Guivens, Middle School ELA Teacher
"Since going through the STTI 101 program with Kwame, I have received numerous teaching offers from different schools within my school district! The lessons I’ve learned from the program have definitely sped up the process of hiring for me within Boston Public Schools. At a time when I couldn’t get an interview, Kwame stepped in and mentored me through the hiring process. Within days, I received and accepted the job offer from my current school! Less than an hour after accepting the offer, I had principals from other schools calling me and urging me for an interview! Thank you, Kwame!"
Olivia, High School History Teacher
"Kwame is a phenomenal coach! When I was a student teacher, he would consistently come to my classroom to help me manage behaviors, model strategies, and offer words of encouragement. Thank you Kwame for being such a strong activist and educator! I am so glad to have you as a coach, friend, and colleague!”
Elizabeth, Middle School ELA Teacher
"Kwame helped me identify as my next steps in my educator journey. Kwame believes that anyone with passion who intentionally, creatively, and honorably engages in the work as an educator has the obligation to fulfill their goals will do so with a little help from the same people who work in the same way. Kwame supports my growth in encouraging and guiding me through this process. Thanks to STTI 101, I have completely changed my own identity as an educator, woman, and member of society."
Norman, Paraprofessional
"Kwame has helped me to understand that as a black man, if I put my mind to it, then I surely can achieve it. This course has inspired me to continue to pursue my masters in special education because it has shown me the importance of reaching out to the voiceless and those that seem 'invisible' to the public. And as we know, there are so many of our black and brown students who are left behind because of educators who weren’t fully and rightly equipped to teach them. So Kwame, thank you brother for equipping me for the road of becoming an educator."
Denise, Community Organizer
“Kwame is a dedicated educator who continuously works to strengthen relationships with students and teachers. He seamlessly connects social and restorative justice into his teaching practice. His work continues to inspire me as an educator. Through the STTI 101 program, I learned so much about my identity and how it shapes my work as a community organizer!”
Hi, I’m Kwame Sarfo-Mensah!
I'm the founder of Identity Talk Consulting, LLC. and the creator of Shaping the Teacher Identity 101. Throughout my 14 years as a public school educator, author, and entrepreneur, I have served as a staunch ambassador and advocate for teacher empowerment.
If you had told me after getting fired in my first year of teaching that I would end up doing the following:
1. Become a 2x self-published author
2. Become a certified professional development trainer for teachers
3. Own an educational consulting business
4. Serve as a regular contributor to educational publications like Edutopia, Education Post, and others.
I would've looked at you sideways and thought you were delusional! Without having the necessary supports and proper mentorship during my first year of teaching, it was hard for me to envision the life that I now live. Getting fired after that year was easily the most painful experience of my professional life but it was also a blessing a disguise! That experience almost drove me out of the profession but, instead, it pushed me to go even harder!
Now, I'm on a mission to ignite and empower teachers across the globe! Through this course, Shaping the Teacher Identity 101, your eyes will be open to what is possible when stay true to who they are, own their unique roles as change agents, and utilize their skill sets as the foundation of their educator journeys!
Is STTI 101 the program for YOU?
Whether or not this program will work for you will be determined on the call after we ask YOU some deeper questions, but YOU will get more out of the call if you review this information prior to speaking with our team!
If we believe you would be a good fit for us, then we will show you what we can do for you, based on your specific situation, and then YOU can decide whether or not you want to has to be the next success story like the educators we've highlighted above.
If you haven't done it yet, click HERE to book a call with us today and watch the video.
STTI 101 ABAR Edition Program Curriculum
- Developing Culturally Responsive Lessons In All Content Areas (39:47)
- Becoming an Anti-Racist Educator (44:40)
- Resource Link Pages
- Race Implicit Bias Test
- Identity Talk with Afrika Afeni Mills (Developing Culturally Responsive & Anti-Racist Practices)
- Build a Culturally Responsive Lesson Plan (6:36)