✊🏾

Hello

my name is

Marcus G.

Mr. Giles

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.

Marcus 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!

I began my teaching career in North Dakota, where I taught second grade before moving to Minnesota. Last year, I taught fourth grade, and I'm excited to now work with my amazing group of third graders.

Outside the classroom, I enjoy staying active, traveling, writing music, and spending time with family, friends, and my dog, Bennie.

My teaching philosophy is that every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and heard, and in my classroom, everyone has a voice. I believe education goes beyond academics—it's about helping each child grow with confidence, kindness, and curiosity.

A quote that guides me is from Dr. Rick Rigsby, who often asked:

"How you living?"

A reminder to live with integrity, purpose, and heart every single day.

‍

Hello reader, thanks for reading my story!

My name is

Marcus G.

But my wonderful students call me

Mr. Giles

I teach

3RD 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

Marcus G.

But my wonderful students call me

Mr. Giles

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

Marcus

BMT Teacher

Read Interview

BMT Teacher

Marcus

BMT Teacher

Teaching Fellow

I began my teaching career in North Dakota, where I taught second grade before moving to Minnesota. Last year, I taught fourth grade, and I'm excited to now work with my amazing group of third graders.

Outside the classroom, I enjoy staying active, traveling, writing music, and spending time with family, friends, and my dog, Bennie.

My teaching philosophy is that every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and heard, and in my classroom, everyone has a voice. I believe education goes beyond academics—it's about helping each child grow with confidence, kindness, and curiosity.

A quote that guides me is from Dr. Rick Rigsby, who often asked:

"How you living?"

A reminder to live with integrity, purpose, and heart every single day.

‍

I began my teaching career in North Dakota, where I taught second grade before moving to Minnesota. Last year, I taught fourth grade, and I'm excited to now work with my amazing group of third graders.

Outside the classroom, I enjoy staying active, traveling, writing music, and spending time with family, friends, and my dog, Bennie.

My teaching philosophy is that every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and heard, and in my classroom, everyone has a voice. I believe education goes beyond academics—it's about helping each child grow with confidence, kindness, and curiosity.

A quote that guides me is from Dr. Rick Rigsby, who often asked:

"How you living?"

A reminder to live with integrity, purpose, and heart every single day.

‍

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

Marcus G.

But my wonderful students call me

Mr. Giles

I teach

3RD GRADE

at a BMT Partner School!


Teaching Fellow

THIS IS MY STORY

I began my teaching career in North Dakota, where I taught second grade before moving to Minnesota. Last year, I taught fourth grade, and I'm excited to now work with my amazing group of third graders.

Outside the classroom, I enjoy staying active, traveling, writing music, and spending time with family, friends, and my dog, Bennie.

My teaching philosophy is that every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and heard, and in my classroom, everyone has a voice. I believe education goes beyond academics—it's about helping each child grow with confidence, kindness, and curiosity.

A quote that guides me is from Dr. Rick Rigsby, who often asked:

"How you living?"

A reminder to live with integrity, purpose, and heart every single day.

‍

9 QUESTIONS

WITH

Marcus

1

How many years have you been teaching?

3

2

What does it mean to be a Black male teacher?

Being a Black male teacher means you get to provide students—specifically African-American boys and girls—the opportunity to see someone who looks like them doing something that, as a Black male student in elementary school, I never thought to be possible.

3

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

I never had the privilege of having a Black male teacher.

I did, however, have a male fifth-grade teacher for the first time in elementary school, and it changed my life. It really gave me a different perspective—having someone who teaches and actually understands me.

4

What's your favorite subject to teach? Why?

I love teaching math because it allows us to see those aha moments with the students.

5

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

Are you with me?

6

List three words your students would use to describe you.

Kind

Funny

Energetic

7

What is your favorite activity to do with your students?

I love our read aloud sessions!

8

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

I would love to take them to a planetarium!

9

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

Favorite Movie or TV Show:
Avatar The Last Airbender

Favorite Book:
House of Hades by Percy Jackson

Go-To After-School Snack:
Hot Funyons

‍

3

1

How many years have you been teaching?

1

Being a Black male teacher means you get to provide students—specifically African-American boys and girls—the opportunity to see someone who looks like them doing something that, as a Black male student in elementary school, I never thought to be possible.

2

What does it mean to be a Black male teacher?

2

I never had the privilege of having a Black male teacher.

I did, however, have a male fifth-grade teacher for the first time in elementary school, and it changed my life. It really gave me a different perspective—having someone who teaches and actually understands me.

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 math because it allows us to see those aha moments with the students.

4

What's your favorite subject to teach? Why?

4

Are you with me?

5

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

5

Kind

Funny

Energetic

6

List three words your students would use to describe you.

6

I love our read aloud sessions!

7

What is your favorite activity to do with your students?

7

I would love to take them to a planetarium!

8

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

8

Favorite Movie or TV Show:
Avatar The Last Airbender

Favorite Book:
House of Hades by Percy Jackson

Go-To After-School Snack:
Hot Funyons

‍

9

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

9

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