✊🏾

Hello

my name is

Thetis W.

Mr. White

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.

Thetis 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!

My path to education came from working as an education assistant, youth football coach, and at a UPS night sort.

I am a father of two children, ages 26 and 17. I enjoy sporting events, playing the PS5, hanging out with family and friends, and traveling by air and sea to different states and countries.

What motivates me is the fact that every day is different, and there will be challenges that shape you into a better teacher. Being able to be flexible in the moment is essential.Love is being able to tell your students the truth about their choices and how they can shape themselves for success—as well as listening to your students as they shape you as an educator.

Hello reader, thanks for reading my story!

My name is

Thetis W.

But my wonderful students call me

Mr. White

I teach

5th 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

Thetis W.

But my wonderful students call me

Mr. White

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

Thetis

BMT Teacher

Read Interview

BMT Teacher

Thetis

BMT Teacher

Teaching Fellow

My path to education came from working as an education assistant, youth football coach, and at a UPS night sort.

I am a father of two children, ages 26 and 17. I enjoy sporting events, playing the PS5, hanging out with family and friends, and traveling by air and sea to different states and countries.

What motivates me is the fact that every day is different, and there will be challenges that shape you into a better teacher. Being able to be flexible in the moment is essential.Love is being able to tell your students the truth about their choices and how they can shape themselves for success—as well as listening to your students as they shape you as an educator.

My path to education came from working as an education assistant, youth football coach, and at a UPS night sort.

I am a father of two children, ages 26 and 17. I enjoy sporting events, playing the PS5, hanging out with family and friends, and traveling by air and sea to different states and countries.

What motivates me is the fact that every day is different, and there will be challenges that shape you into a better teacher. Being able to be flexible in the moment is essential.Love is being able to tell your students the truth about their choices and how they can shape themselves for success—as well as listening to your students as they shape you as an educator.

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

Thetis W.

But my wonderful students call me

Mr. White

I teach

5th Grade

at a BMT Partner School!


Teaching Fellow

THIS IS MY STORY

My path to education came from working as an education assistant, youth football coach, and at a UPS night sort.

I am a father of two children, ages 26 and 17. I enjoy sporting events, playing the PS5, hanging out with family and friends, and traveling by air and sea to different states and countries.

What motivates me is the fact that every day is different, and there will be challenges that shape you into a better teacher. Being able to be flexible in the moment is essential.Love is being able to tell your students the truth about their choices and how they can shape themselves for success—as well as listening to your students as they shape you as an educator.

9 QUESTIONS

WITH

Thetis

1

How many years have you been teaching?

7

2

What does it mean to be a Black male teacher?

Changing the narrative of how Black men are envisioned and seen as positive role models. Being able to teach more than just academics.

3

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

Mr. Bill Acree, 8th Grade, Art Class

Actually being able to notice he was the only Black male in a teacher role. He was also one of my football coaches in high school.

At the time, I didn’t fully understand the impact. But I recall a different shift to school.

You didn’t mess around in his class out of respect.

4

What's your favorite subject to teach? Why?

Math because of all the strategies that I teach. Helping students understand if they use the strategies correctly they will be doing single digit multiplication.

‍

5

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

Think about it before you do or say something.

6

List three words your students would use to describe you.

Loving

Honest

Reliable

7

What is your favorite activity to do with your students?

Football at recess!

8

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

On a cruise ship to a sunny destination!

9

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

Favorite Movie or TV Show:
The Tulsa King (TV)
Harlem Nights and Coming to America (Movies)

Favorite Book:
Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper

Go-To After-School Snack:
Chocolate

7

1

How many years have you been teaching?

1

Changing the narrative of how Black men are envisioned and seen as positive role models. Being able to teach more than just academics.

2

What does it mean to be a Black male teacher?

2

Mr. Bill Acree, 8th Grade, Art Class

Actually being able to notice he was the only Black male in a teacher role. He was also one of my football coaches in high school.

At the time, I didn’t fully understand the impact. But I recall a different shift to school.

You didn’t mess around in his class out of respect.

3

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

3

Math because of all the strategies that I teach. Helping students understand if they use the strategies correctly they will be doing single digit multiplication.

‍

4

What's your favorite subject to teach? Why?

4

Think about it before you do or say something.

5

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

5

Loving

Honest

Reliable

6

List three words your students would use to describe you.

6

Football at recess!

7

What is your favorite activity to do with your students?

7

On a cruise ship to a sunny destination!

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:
The Tulsa King (TV)
Harlem Nights and Coming to America (Movies)

Favorite Book:
Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper

Go-To After-School Snack:
Chocolate

9

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

9

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