NFBLME: The National Fellowship for Black and Latino Male Educators

?? Calling Black and Latino Male Educators: Your Leadership Journey Starts Here! ?? The National Fellowship for Black and Latino Male Educators (NFBLME) is on a mission to increase, retain, and sustain the number of Black and Latino men in senior and C-level leadership roles in education. Since our founding, we've served over 125 educators, with over 50% of our alumni receiving promotions and 36 Fellows stepping into senior or C-level leadership roles—surpassing our initial goal for 2025! What’s in it for you? ?? Three Leadership Pathways – Choose from Rising Leader, Senior Leader, and C-Level Leader, each tailored to your career stage. ?? Elite, ICF & EQ-Certified Coaching & Mentoring – Work 1:1 with International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Emotional Intelligence (EQ) certified coaches who will help you break through barriers and unlock your full leadership potential. ?? Best-in-Class Professional Development – Strengthen both your technical expertise and adaptive leadership skills, preparing you to lead with impact. ?? Soul-Fulfilling Brotherhood & Fellowship – Join a powerful peer community dedicated to empowerment, growth, and lifting each other up. ?? Exclusive In-Person Retreats – Immerse yourself in transformational experiences that deepen your leadership journey. Why Organizations Should Support Their Educators? ?? By sponsoring a Fellow, your organization is investing in a diverse leadership pipeline, strengthening school systems, and ensuring lasting impact in the education sector. ?? An All-Inclusive Leadership Experience: Sponsoring a Fellow means investing in a high-impact, on-the-job training and leadership development program designed to equip Black and Latino male educators with the skills to thrive and drive results—starting now. ?? A Transformational Pipeline: This Fellowship goes beyond theory—Fellows receive hands-on coaching, real-time problem-solving, and immersive leadership experiences that prepare them to step into leadership and create immediate impact in their schools. ?? A High-Value Investment: Your organization isn't just developing one leader—it's strengthening the entire school system by building a diverse, highly skilled leadership pipeline that will have a lasting effect on students, staff, and communities. Application Opens: Week of March 24 Deadline to Apply: April 14 Know a dynamic Black or Latino male educator ready to step into transformational leadership? Tag them below or share this opportunity! Want to learn more about our pathways? Feel free to reach out to our team at [email protected] to set up a time to connect and check out our Rising Leader Pamphlet, Senior Leader Pamphlet, and C-Level Pamphlet in the comments for more information. Apply today by filling out the 2025-2026 NFBLME Application https://lnkd.in/eXdN4dJc #NFBLME #BlackEducators #LatinoEducators #EducationLeadership #RepresentationMatters

Our founder and CEO Keith Brooks is featured in the Noble Story Group March newsletter. Check out his piece - Sustaining the Mission: Leadership Without the Burnout Badge Read and subscribe now - Our March newsletter is here! Check out Keith Brooks' piece - Sustaining the Mission: Leadership Without the Burnout Badge Read and subscribe now: https://lnkd.in/esuK92-j

Your teacher retention problem might not be about burnout. It might be about blocked leadership pathways. I’ve seen it too many times. A good friend of mine—one of the strongest educators I knew—was told he wasn’t ready for leadership and should “just focus on classroom instruction.” Another colleague applied for a leadership role in their district, and instead of encouragement, their principal got mad they hadn’t “asked for permission.” From that moment on, they were cut off from any leadership opportunities in their school. And then there was me. I had years of leadership experience under my belt. I went to my principal, offered to support teachers, and instead I was asked to make Canva flyers for an upcoming school event. All three of us left. Not because we wanted to. Not because we weren’t committed to students. But because the pathway to leadership was designed to keep certain people out. Here’s the truth no one likes to talk about: ???? Leadership pipelines in schools are often cliques, not systems. ???? Teachers aren’t leaving just because they’re overworked—they’re leaving because they see no path forward. ???? Leadership development is gatekept, and without intentional structures in place, bias (conscious or not) decides who moves up. So let’s call it what it is: If you don’t have a clear, equitable leadership pipeline, you don’t have a teacher retention strategy. Teachers don’t just want to be heard, they want to grow. They want to lead. And if that’s not happening in your building, they will find another one. The good news is that this is fixable. I work with schools to create intentional leadership pipelines that identify, develop, and retain future school leaders—before they start looking elsewhere. If you’re ready to stop the talent drain and build a leadership culture that makes teachers want to stay, let’s talk. Drop a comment or message me "Leadership" and let’s connect.

LAST CALL: ?? Nominate a Trailblazer for the Inaugural NFBLME Power 50 NFBLME: The National Fellowship for Black and Latino Male Educators is launching The Power 50—a prestigious list recognizing the most powerful and influential Black and Latino male educators who are making a lasting impact in education. We need YOUR help to identify the visionaries, changemakers, and leaders who are shaping the future of education! Do you know a Black or Latino male educator who is: ? Driving change in schools or policy? ? Mentoring and uplifting the next generation? ? Making a transformative impact in education? ?? Submit your nomination today! https://lnkd.in/efgPtdtK LAST CALL: Monday, March 3rd! Let’s give these inspirational educators the recognition they deserve! Tag someone who should be on this list and help us celebrate their impact. #NFBLME #ThePower50 #NominateNow #BlackEducators #LatinoEducators #EducationLeadership #RepresentationMatters

?? NFBLME Black History Month Event Recap! ?? As #BlackHistoryMonth comes to a close, we want to extend a huge THANK YOU to our incredible panelists who joined us for an inspiring discussion on Artificial Intelligence, the Role of Tech in Education, and Black Representation in EdTech. ?? Panelists:??? Adam Mangana, M.Ed. – President/CEO, OptimaEd ??? Edna Martinson Co-Founder, Boddle Learning ??? Matt S. – CEO/Co-Founder, Code2College ??? Taylor Shead – Founder/CEO, Stemuli Moderated by Kendrick Kumabe, M.Ed., we explored how Black and Latino educators aren’t just talking about history—we’re making history. ?? From breaking barriers in EdTech to increasing representation, our community is shaping the future of education. At NFBLME, our mission is to support, elevate, and empower Black and Latino male educators, ensuring they not only thrive in their roles but also advance into leadership positions. This event was a testament to that mission—bringing our brotherhood together not just to reflect on the past, but to take actionable steps toward shaping the future. Through shared experiences, strategic connections, and critical conversations, we are building a legacy that will impact generations of students and educators to come. Special thanks to the NFBLME Brotherhood for coming together to celebrate, learn, and strategize on how we continue making an impact. Let’s keep pushing forward! ??? #NFBLME #EdTech #BlackLeaders #LatinoLeaders #AIinEducation #RepresentationMatters #MakingHistory #LeadershipMatters #Brotherhood To learn more about us, visit our website: www.nfblme.org

Taking time to color took me to a place I did not expect. I set a goal for 2025 over the summer to create a coloring book based on "Bailey Bear goes to Work" and after getting the proof, decided to experience it for myself. Feeling present, a bit less stress, and joy was expected. What I didn't expect was to remember how much I loved using the "orange-red" Crayon and Color Pencil when I was a child. The Bailey Bear Coloring Book is now available on Amazon and Ingramspark! https://a.co/d/2J2YlS4 https://lnkd.in/eRmEMayY For the Adults, rediscover your favorite color pencil or crayon color! Commit to slowing down, easing that stress, and taking time with the Bailey Bear Coloring book. Follow the story through line illustration, adding your own creative color combinations!? For kids, work on fine motor skills, inspire creative expression, explore color, and take a break from screens! The Bailey Bear Coloring book has 23 hand drawn pages, a combination of simple and more advanced illustration to color. It's perfect for younger children still developing fine motor and executive functioning, as well as for older children ready to engage in more complex illustrations.?

Major congratulations to John Burnett for leveling up! ???? As a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation John is setting the standard for excellence in coaching and leadership. His achievement reinforces the power of representation and the impact of Black and Latino male educators breaking barriers. At NFBLME, our mission is to support, uplift, and promote Black and Latino male educators, ensuring they have the tools and opportunities to advance in their careers. All of our fellows receive coaching from a certified executive coach, also certified in emotional intelligence coaching from Noble Story Group, to help them navigate leadership with confidence and impact. Let’s celebrate John’s achievement and continue pushing for more representation in leadership! To learn more about us, visit our website: www.nfblme.org #RepresentationMatters #Leadership #CoachingExcellence #NFBLME #ElevateEducators

We want to give roses to our ancestor Dr. Benjamin E. Mays. Dr. Mays was a transformative leader whose impact on education and civil rights still resonates today. As president of Morehouse College (1940–1967), he mentored a generation of changemakers, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and championed education as a pathway to justice and equality. Today, we honor his contributions and recommit to the pursuit of excellence in education. How has his work influenced your journey? Representation Matters! NFBLME Power 50: We need YOUR help to identify the visionaries, changemakers, and leaders who are shaping the future of education! Do you know a Black or Latino male educator who is: ? Driving change in schools or policy? ? Mentoring and uplifting the next generation? ? Making a transformative impact in education? ?? Submit your nomination today! https://lnkd.in/efgPtdtK Accepting Nominations through the month of February! #BenjaminMays #EducationMatters #BlackExcellence #Leadership

Amplifying this opportunity with our broader community ?????? Representation Matters!

Level Up Alert! ?? Roses and Blessings to Kevin T. Taylor for stepping into the role of Chief Finance and Talent Officer at Connecticut RISE Network Kevin has been a dedicated force in the community, working tirelessly to uplift and empower those around him. His impact can be seen through his commitment to creating opportunities, fostering growth, and advocating for equitable education. His leadership continues to inspire and drive meaningful change. Representation Matters! If you want to learn more about our organization or how to get involved, contact us at https://www.nfblme.org. #educators #school #schools #education #blackeducator #latinoeducators