Teaching Profession Video

Six Schools in Seven Years: Where One Black Male Teacher Found the Right Fit

By Jaclyn Borowski — September 29, 2021 4:28

Patrick Harris, a black male teacher working in suburban Detroit, kept searching for a school where he could be fully himself, where all the parts of him – black, queer, human – could be seen and appreciated. In his seventh year of teaching, he’s finally found that place and is returning to a school for the first time. Here he explains the value in teaching at a school that fits your needs, and the benefits that holds for not only himself, but also his colleagues and students.

Jaclyn Borowski is the Director of Photography and Videography for Education Week.

Video

Early Childhood Video Students Have Big Feelings. Can Principals Interpret Them?
Four school leaders share how they're helping students learn to regulate their emotions.
1 min read
Pre-K 4 SA teacher Deziree Arce, center, comforts one of her her students, Oct. 9, 2025, in San Antonio.
Pre-K 4 SA teacher Deziree Arce, center, comforts one of her her students, Oct. 9, 2025, in San Antonio.
Eric Gay/AP
Federal Video What the Midterm Elections Could Mean for Schools: 4 Takeaways
What Democratic victories and an electoral bright spot for Trump could mean for schools.
1 min read
People at a Democratic event react during an election night event at a hotel on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026.
People at a Democratic event react during an election night event at a hotel on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Reading & Literacy Video Want Kids to Read More? An Expert Shares the Low-Cost Tips That Work (Video)
A researcher shares her tips about how to motivate kids to read more.
Illustration of children's hands holding books in a circle in the center of the frame.
Illustration by Emily Wright for Education Week
Early Childhood Video How Play-Based Learning Helps Children Practice Math and Literacy Skills
See how elementary teachers use play-based learning to reinforce math and literacy instruction.
1 min read
Children enjoy a morning at the writing center at the Coltrane-Webb STEM Elementary School in Concord, N.C., on Sept. 3, 2026. Educators at the school use play to reinforce math and literacy instruction.
Children enjoy a morning at the writing center at the Coltrane-Webb STEM Elementary School in Concord, N.C., on Sept. 3, 2026. Educators at the school use play to reinforce math and literacy instruction.
Peyton Sickles for Education Week