Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) and Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises welcomed students back to school on Aug. 25, visiting them in their classrooms and recognizing good attendance.
Category: Education
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Reading, writing and road rules: AAA offers lesson in back-to-school traffic safety
As schools in D.C. and Maryland reopen for the 2025–26 academic year, AAA is reminding motorists, parents, students, and bicyclists to stay alert and follow traffic safety rules to keep children safe. With increased congestion around schools, risks posed by distracted driving, red-light running, and improper bus passing are heightened. AAA highlights state laws, offers safety tips for bus riders, pedestrians, bicyclists, and parents handling drop-offs and pick-ups, and stresses vigilance to prevent avoidable tragedies.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Lewis Ferebee shares priorities for D.C. schools in new academic year, beginning Aug. 25
As D.C. Public Schools students return to class on Aug. 25, Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee outlines new initiatives to boost academic success, address chronic absenteeism, and modernize school facilities. In an interview with the AFRO, Ferebee highlighted gains since the pandemic, strategies to strengthen attendance, and DCPS’s approach to AI in classrooms, while reaffirming Mayor Muriel Bowser’s $180 million commitment to school modernization.
Posted inHBCU
Howard University president announces departureÂ
By Ashleigh Fields Special to the AFRO Dr. Ben Vinson III will soon depart from his role as president of Howard University, just two years after being selected to lead the historically Black institution. Howard University officials announced that Vinson would step down from the role on Aug. 31 with former President Wayne A.I. Frederick […]
Posted inEducation
How Black educators have experienced and managed burnout
Teachers across the nation are dealing with burnout, with symptoms ranging from fatigue to apathy about work and irritability in their time off.
Posted inHBCU
Bowie State University ranks No. 5 in Forbes’ 2025 top online HBCUs list
Bowie State University has been ranked No. 5 on Forbes’ 2025 list of the best HBCUs offering online degrees, recognizing its high-quality, affordable, and accessible virtual programs. The honor reflects the university’s commitment to meeting students where they are and preparing them for success in a rapidly changing world.
Posted inEducation
BEYA and WOC launch Quantum Computing Executive Leadership Learning Track
The Becoming Everything You Are (BEYA) STEM Conference has launched the Quantum Computing Executive Leadership Learning Track, led by Terrence R. Head, to prepare executive leaders and senior technologists for the rapidly evolving quantum era.
Posted inEducation
Federal probe targets diversity efforts at George Mason under first Black president
George Mason University President Greg Washington faces growing pressure as the current White House administration launches a federal investigation into the school’s diversity efforts.
Posted inEducation
Brittany Jakubowski named 2025 Baltimore County Teacher of the YearÂ
Brittany Jakubowski, named Baltimore County Public Schools’ 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year, is praised for creating a warm, engaging classroom where meaningful learning and confidence-building go hand in hand. She champions diversity and connection, inspiring students and colleagues alike to embrace culture and community.
Posted inCommentary
Where’s the class for grief? Why schools must make healing mandatoryÂ
By Kanika Cousine In March 2025, 16-year-old Sincere Jazmin was fatally shot while seated at a bus stop in Jamaica, Queens, after stepping off his school bus. According to the New York Post, he ran into a nearby deli before collapsing and dying on-site. Just days later, a 16-year-old student at Lansdowne High School in […]
Posted inWord In Black
Toxic legacy: How lead in schools is silently harming kids
Aging school infrastructure continues to expose Black children to toxic lead, with cities like Cleveland and Milwaukee reporting some of the highest contamination rates. Experts warn the damage from lead exposure is irreversible, yet many schools in Black and low-income communities remain dangerously unaddressed.
Posted inEducation
Exploring ways to prepare your child for kindergarten
Various principals and program directors spoke with the AFRO about not only how to best prepare your child for kindergarten through reading and development of soft skills, but also some of the struggles families and schools alike are facing in regard to funding.