✊🏾

Hello

my name is

Keondre L.

Mr. Lewis

AKA

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OUR MISSION:

Recruit, Prepare, Place and Retain Black male teachers in elementary schools.

OUR VISION:

Is that all students have the opportunity to attend schools staffed with racially and culturally diverse teachers and leaders, reflecting the students' race, ethnicity, and cultures, thereby creating an environment that affirms students for who they are. Black Men Teach creates the environment and conditions where Black male teachers can thrive, because our children’s schooling experience will never be complete without them.

BMT STORIES

Get to know our torch-bearing BMT Teachers.

Keondre embodies the spirit of Black Men Teach in the classroom—empowering students, modeling excellence, and cultivating a learning environment rooted in purpose, representation, and integrity. As a teacher, their impact goes beyond academics, shaping the hearts and minds of future leaders while uplifting the community they serve. This is his story.

Read My Story

Hello reader, thanks for reading my story!

Growing up, I never knew that teaching was a possibility, despite being the oldest of four and working with kids since I was 15. I was blessed with an opportunity to work in a 5th grade class during an aide hour and saw the way students gravitated to me.

I graduated with my BA in Elementary Education in 2022 and am currently pursuing an MEd in Educational Leadership at the University of Minnesota.

In my free time, I enjoy working with and learning about animals and our environment.

I strongly believe that teaching needs to be done through love and high expectations. With these two things combined, I believe students can see their true potential and achieve great things.

Hello reader, thanks for reading my story!

My name is

Keondre L.

But my wonderful students call me

Mr. Lewis

I teach

2nd Grade

at BMT Partner School

Teaching Fellow

Did you know in the State of Minnesota only

1 in 200

elementary teachers are Black Men? That's half of 1%.

I am a Black Male Teacher,

I am an impactful and inspiring leader.

My name is

Keondre L.

But my wonderful students call me

Mr. Lewis

I am proud half-percent, this is my story.

Keondre

BMT Teacher

Read Interview

BMT Teacher

Keondre

BMT Teacher

Teaching Fellow

Growing up, I never knew that teaching was a possibility, despite being the oldest of four and working with kids since I was 15. I was blessed with an opportunity to work in a 5th grade class during an aide hour and saw the way students gravitated to me.

I graduated with my BA in Elementary Education in 2022 and am currently pursuing an MEd in Educational Leadership at the University of Minnesota.

In my free time, I enjoy working with and learning about animals and our environment.

I strongly believe that teaching needs to be done through love and high expectations. With these two things combined, I believe students can see their true potential and achieve great things.

Growing up, I never knew that teaching was a possibility, despite being the oldest of four and working with kids since I was 15. I was blessed with an opportunity to work in a 5th grade class during an aide hour and saw the way students gravitated to me.

I graduated with my BA in Elementary Education in 2022 and am currently pursuing an MEd in Educational Leadership at the University of Minnesota.

In my free time, I enjoy working with and learning about animals and our environment.

I strongly believe that teaching needs to be done through love and high expectations. With these two things combined, I believe students can see their true potential and achieve great things.

Hello Reader!
Thanks for being here and reading my story. I appreciate you taking the time to get to know me and Black Men Teach.

My name is

Keondre L.

But my wonderful students call me

Mr. Lewis

I teach

2nd Grade

at a BMT Partner School!


Teaching Fellow

THIS IS MY STORY

Growing up, I never knew that teaching was a possibility, despite being the oldest of four and working with kids since I was 15. I was blessed with an opportunity to work in a 5th grade class during an aide hour and saw the way students gravitated to me.

I graduated with my BA in Elementary Education in 2022 and am currently pursuing an MEd in Educational Leadership at the University of Minnesota.

In my free time, I enjoy working with and learning about animals and our environment.

I strongly believe that teaching needs to be done through love and high expectations. With these two things combined, I believe students can see their true potential and achieve great things.

9 QUESTIONS

WITH

Keondre

1

How many years have you been teaching?

4

2

What does it mean to be a Black male teacher?

To me, being a Black male teacher feels like being a part of a revolution.

Especially in Minnesota, where we make up just half a percent of K–6 educators, this is the most powerful movement that I have been a part of.

3

What grade did you have your first Black male teacher? What's one big takeaway you gained from that experience?

I did not have a Black male teacher until my sophomore year of college.

It was a Critical Race Theory class that was taught very authentically. I felt extremely empowered to be true to myself—both socially and in education.

4

What's your favorite subject to teach? Why?

I love teaching literacy.

In 2nd grade, I see so many students become confident in their reading and find a new series that they enjoy. Watching this growth and passion over the school year is amazing to see and is why I am so passionate about what I do.

5

What's a one-liner you use all the time in the classroom?

Lock In!

6

List three words your students would use to describe you.

Fun

Firm

Loving

7

What is your favorite activity to do with your students?

Team based STEM activities!

8

If you could take your students on a field trip to any place around the world, where would you take them?

Africa, to teach students collective and Afrocentric ways of being!

9

What’s your favorite movie or TV show, favorite book, and go-to after-school snack?

Favorite Movie or TV Show:
Game of Thrones
‍

Favorite Book:
Ratchetdemic: Reimagining Academic Success by Christopher Emdin
‍

Go-To After-School Snack:
Chips and Salsa

4

1

How many years have you been teaching?

1

To me, being a Black male teacher feels like being a part of a revolution.

Especially in Minnesota, where we make up just half a percent of K–6 educators, this is the most powerful movement that I have been a part of.

2

What does it mean to be a Black male teacher?

2

I did not have a Black male teacher until my sophomore year of college.

It was a Critical Race Theory class that was taught very authentically. I felt extremely empowered to be true to myself—both socially and in education.

3

What grade did you have your first Black male teacher? What's one big takeaway you gained from that experience?

3

I love teaching literacy.

In 2nd grade, I see so many students become confident in their reading and find a new series that they enjoy. Watching this growth and passion over the school year is amazing to see and is why I am so passionate about what I do.

4

What's your favorite subject to teach? Why?

4

Lock In!

5

What's a one-liner you use all the time in the classroom?

5

Fun

Firm

Loving

6

List three words your students would use to describe you.

6

Team based STEM activities!

7

What is your favorite activity to do with your students?

7

Africa, to teach students collective and Afrocentric ways of being!

8

If you could take your students on a field trip to any place around the world, where would you take them?

8

Favorite Movie or TV Show:
Game of Thrones
‍

Favorite Book:
Ratchetdemic: Reimagining Academic Success by Christopher Emdin
‍

Go-To After-School Snack:
Chips and Salsa

9

What’s your favorite movie or TV show, favorite book, and go-to after-school snack?

9

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