The activist, who served as an advisor to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, believes black students should be taught by teachers of their own race, including Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Nike.
Sharif Elmekki, a former middle school and high school teacher and principal, is working to increase the number of black teachers through the Center for Black Educator Development (CBED).
The organization's website describes its vision: “All Black students have access to high-quality Black teachers throughout their education from preschool through high school,” and “All teachers have a high level of anti-racist thinking.” “It's a world where you demonstrate your expertise.”
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Sharif Elmekki testifies at a hearing before the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. His nonprofit organization has more than $19.5 million in assets, including funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, according to media reports. (House of Representatives Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education)
According to tax filings, CBED has more than $19.5 million in assets thanks to donations from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in 2020 and 2021.
Other donors include Nike, the Bezos Family Foundation, the University of Pennsylvania School of Education, and the Philadelphia Department of Health. Fox News Digital reached out to Mr. Elmeki, Mr. Shapiro's office and the Gates Foundation.
CBED was established to train teachers across the United States in “educational work'' and called for “efforts to liberate education from the racism inherent in American institutions, including schools.''
CBED information packet, The Anti-Racism Guide for Teacher Retention, created in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, calls education a “potential for reversing the history of white supremacy and racism that has used education as an oppressive social force.” The Free Press reported that it was defined as a “sexual act” and “a political act.”
“Every lesson plan is a political document and every classroom interaction is a political statement,” the guide states.
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Elmekki appeared before members of Congress in September and spoke about the need to “rebuild the national pipeline of Black teachers.”
“For students of color, having teachers with similar backgrounds leads to better student outcomes, higher graduation rates, and increased college enrollment,” he said in the House of Representatives for Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. He spoke at an educational institution. Education subcommittee.
He noted that only 7% of black teachers make up the teaching staff, creating “institutional barriers” that prevent many black teachers from remaining in the profession.
In 2023, CBED trained 1,700 educators.
El Mekki earned $233,410 a year from the organization, which was reportedly raised by activists. His parents were members of the Black Panthers and moved to Iran when he was in middle school after his mother, Aisha Elmekki, converted to Islam. The reason for this was, “I wanted to show the children that the country is united in its efforts to bring about change.''
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CBED's website features a photo of El Mecchi wearing a Black Panther shirt. He has praised Iran in the past. In the podcast, he praised the Islamic Republic's education system.
“Iran produces more engineers, doctors and scientists than many other countries,” he said.
