In Her Book, Dr. Marianna Steele Shares Her Experience As A Black Educator to Empower New Educators
Dr. Marianna Steele has worked with at-risk children with behavioral problems for 30 years. She has worked in the private, public, nonprofit, academic and social enterprise sectors. She spent much of her career working to improve the diversity, representation, and inclusion of underrepresented groups in education.
Dr. Steele claims that some of her best years were spent in education as a teacher. “I always tried to bond early with my students with positive affirmations,” she says—Dr. Steele shares how she rewarded her students for good grades, progress, and correct behaviors. “I am a firm believer in rewarding steady progress for all students. I loved planning adventures for my students. One of my favorite field trips was taking my students to Disney All-Star Resort and Parks for one week. I received a grant to cover most of the cost and students paid a minimal amount for one week off from school and a Disney adventure.”
Today, Dr. Steele is passionate about leaving a legacy for the younger generation of educators to follow as they teach students, primarily minority students. She states that students are struggling in a failing system meant to keep them behind and failing. “Black and minority students are penalized by white and black teachers who do not expect them to pass,” Dr. Steele explains. “Students must overcome poverty and neglectful parents. They come to school and must deal with uncaring teachers who have no experience with what they live through daily. Few teachers move in compassion toward them. They constantly belittle the students and expect them to perform for them. Students must be loved and cared about before you can educate them. They need to know that you care before you can teach them.”
To leave a blueprint for the younger generation of educators, Dr. Steele shares her experience as an educator in her book, Anthology of Black Educators On Long Island School Districts. In the book, Dr. Steele and a group of black educators give a glimpse into their lives as educators on Long Island. “We are trying to teach new educators how to survive and navigate racism on Long Island and become successful educators who are role models for our students.” She continues, “Our experiences have shaped and built our character and a lifetime of sisterhood. We have prayed, supported, and upheld each other through these 30 years of educational experiences. Our stories are our truths, and names have been changed to respect our colleague’s privacy,” Dr. Steele explains.
Dr. Steele, the author of the book, Anthology of Black Educators On Long Island School Districts, also shared advice for her readers and young educators, saying:
Please find yourself a mentor or colleague wiser than you to help you navigate any new school you are working at. A mentor will inform you about the culture of the school. Your mentor will answer questions and provide strategies for classroom management. Spend time observing your mentor’s classes and who they associate with at school.
For further details on ordering Dr. Steele’s book, Anthology of Black Educators On Long Island School Districts, you can go to Amazon and Barnes and Noble or reach out to her via email. mfsteele123@gmail.com
