Dr. Otis Eldridge is officially the 2026 Teacher of the Year for Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools). Eldridge, a band director and music teacher at Hamilton Elementary Middle School, learned of the honor on May 7 via surprise visit by City Schools CEO Dr. Sonya Santelesis.
Category: Education
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C. schools bring voter registration to students ahead of elections
Schools and community organizations in Washington, D.C. are bringing voter registration and civic education directly to students as the District prepares for upcoming elections and ranked choice voting.
Posted inObituaries - Baltimore
Ellen Louise Dolvey Howard, Baltimore educator and TRIO leader, dies at 97
Ellen Louise Dolvey Howard, a Baltimore educator and national TRIO leader, died at 97 after a decades-long career helping low-income and first-generation students access higher education and trade programs.
Posted inWord In Black
Black school counselors are a necessity–we don’t have enough
By Alvin BuyinzaWord in Black Gabrielle Brundidge knew she wanted to be a school guidance counselor since she was a teenager. The idea first came to her while discussing college plans with her guidance counselor, Ms. Garcia, during her senior year at Northview High School in Johns Creek, Ga. “She was Hispanic, and it was […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Philadelphia’s Jermaine Dawson named new CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools
Dr. Jermaine Dawson has been announced as the new CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools.
Posted inHBCU
70 years later: Xavier alumnae reflect on education and life in segregated New Orleans
For 93-year-old Verlie Decay and 91-year-old Hortense Reine, attending Xavier University of Louisiana was more than a chance at a degree—it was a gateway to opportunity in a segregated city. The two alumni recall creating their own social and cultural spaces, forming lifelong friendships and finding purpose in careers shaped by the barriers of their time.
Posted inEducation
Where Black students find racial healing on campus
Four Black recent college graduates reflect on the spaces that helped them process racial stress and feel whole. By Aaliyah Amos Word In Black On many college campuses, Black students navigate racial stress without spaces designed to help them heal from it. So when those spaces do exist, Black students say they can be transformative. […]
Posted inEducation
Perfect homework, blank stares: Why colleges are turning to oral exams to combat AI
By Jocelyn Gecker AP Education Writer The assignment involves no laptop, no chatbot and no technology of any kind. In fact, there’s no pen or paper, either. Instead, students in Chris Schaffer’s biomedical engineering class at Cornell University are required to speak directly to an instructor in what he calls an “oral defense.” It’s a […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Women to watch: A look at the ladies making change at Johns Hopkins University
The AFRO recently spotlighted the Black women making change via their roles at Johns Hopkins University. Take a look at the movers and shakers in public health, policy development and more.
Posted inBaltimore Community
McDaniel College surprises Baltimore City high school seniors with full-tuition scholarships
McDaniel College has awarded five Baltimore City high school seniors with full-tuition scholarships, valued at approximately $200,000 each, as part of the incoming Class of 2030.
Posted inEducation
Meet the women educators creating space and opportunity for youth
Rosalind Cauthen and Dr. Nicol R. Howard are just two of the leading ladies making waves in education by creating spaces where Black youth and communities can thrive. Their work highlights the impact of Black women educators shaping institutions and the next generation.
Posted inBaltimore News
United Way of Central Maryland, Wellpoint Maryland celebrate Read Across America Month with Baltimore scholars
United Way of Central Maryland and Wellpoint Maryland recently partnered for a Read Across America Month event with scholars from Curtis Bay Elementary and Bay-Brook Elementary/Middle Schools in Baltimore City. More than 900 titles were donated, allowing students to choose which books they wanted to take home.