Youths have the Power to Create — Andrew G. Parker

Youths have the Power to Create

Andrew G. Parker, Co-founder Alberta Black Teachers Association

ndrew Gersham Parker likes to read, play video games, and play basketball, his favourite sport, but he’s not averse to hockey now and then. Andrew’s love of music includes hip hop, Rock-’nRoll, jazz and classical with a dash of the rock band, “Red Hot Chili Peppers” and “2PAC”, an American rapper. Andrew is married to a queen from Uganda and his children are his world, as well as his family. Andrew is a proud member of the North Edmonton, Caribbean/African community here in Edmonton, the City of Champions.

When Andrew’s professional basketball career ended, his coach, Thom Elniski, suggested that he become a teacher. Andrew took a 2-year after-degree program while coaching for the Macewan Men’s Basketball team. He then taught at John D. Bracco and Mary Butterworth schools, but eventually took a position at M.E.Lazerte High School, his former high school and home.

Andrew didn’t find it difficult to find a full-time job as a teacher. His resume, coaching experience and community service were great assets, however, like all teachers, there are challenges to getting a job. Andrew shares, “I would say that it was tough but I enjoyed every moment of the process.”

Black students have shared some of the challenges they face in education today. Even though Black youth have full access to speak on barriers, Andrew believes we need to listen to them. He supports them in many ways.

Some of the challenges Black students have expressed are the lack of representation in our schools. Some schools have no Black teachers, no Black principals, no Black guidance counsellors, and no Black faces in the curriculum and resources. Andrew believes those factors affect our youth because “when you don’t see yourself, it’s hard to carve a path, hard, but not impossible”.

Students desire more representation, resources, support, and less gatekeeping, silencing, supremacy, racial slurs, appropriation, dismissing or coercion of thought, by adults in education. Andrew works on provid-

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ing what they are asking for instead of telling them who they are or who they should be.

One thing he does as the teacher sponsor of the Black Students Association at M.E.LaZerte school is to give the youth full leadership capacity, which includes responsibility but also creative control. Andrew suggests that, “the youth have the power to make initiatives, events, and support systems. And I support them in any way that I can.”

As founder of the Black Teachers Association, Andrew indicates that he’d be remiss if he did not acknowledge Ms. Sarah Adomako Ansah, a leader for the team. She has championed the social media accounts, answered many questions, shared messaging on multiple profiles and planned many PD sessions that Black teachers presented and participated in.

The organization got together in the wake of the second civil rights movement in North America and committed to changing what they

Some of the challenges Black students have expressed are the lack of representation in our schools… “when you don’t see yourself, it’s hard to carve a path, hard, but not impossible”.

Andrew G.Parker

could be a part of. Members were upset about George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and wanted education to be a part of the movement; however in many places, there was inadequate messaging, lack of representation, inauthentic initiatives, and they felt, as a Black community, that they could honour all communities by showing what true solidarity looks like. Since the Association’s inception, they have widened their range of support for not only the Black community, but all communities of religious faiths, the 2SLGBTQ+ family, marginalized, Indigenous peoples, Women of Color and Black youth.

Andrew’s capacity was meaningful because, “I tend to do the behindthe-scenes as well as the public affairs work: connecting with parents, supporting our youth, creating events, and addressing very challenging topics that some leaders in education have not addressed.” Although most of his work is philanthropic, unpaid, and sometimes unseen, it is by far the most meaningful work that he has done in his 10 years as a teacher in Edmonton.

The Association was necessary because Black educators were not given a voice in education. Voices were either coerced, unsupported, silenced, or tokenized and they wanted the organization to be authentic, their voices heard, and the capacity to advocate for Black youth and parents in the education system. This was something that never existed, so it was created.

Andrew has made presentations and been invited to meetings with high-profile politicians during Black

The Association was necessary because Black educators were not given a voice in education. Voices were either coerced, unsupported, silenced, or tokenized... history month 2022. He states, “It’s an honour … I had the pleasure of connecting with politicians at every single level of government in the country.” From Edmonton’s mayor, Mr. Ameerjeet Sohi, before and after his election, MLA David Shepherd and Janis Irwin, Andrew has connected to Sarah, the BTA, and so many of the communities in Edmonton, including, but not limited to, the 2SLGBTQ family. Meeting and talking with the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Justin Trudeau was the highlight of his year as a teacher; potentially the highlight of his entire career.

Being validated by the leader of the country was positive; however, it is very disheartening that Andrew is still waiting for leaders in education to connect with himself and the Black Teachers Association in more meaningful and authentic ways. Andrew states that he has only talked to the Superintendent of Edmonton Public schools once in 3 years, which is not “a recipe for success as it relates to Anti-Black racism, the Black community of teachers and the Black community at large. I would love to have a meeting with both superintendents of Edmonton Public and Catholic Schools as well as Calgary, and I’d like the education minister to connect with me and our ATA president Jason Schilling.” Andrew feels there is a disconnect in education where selecting Black voices to be tokenized is a trend and voices are compromised, which shouldn’t be an option in this line of work.

Andrew is passionate about addressing the 5 pillars of the Black Teachers Association: Representation, Communication, Anti-racism, Support, and Networking. He feels that these issues were never effectively addressed in education, and perhaps it is time to do so. For education to truly become equitable, it will require those in power to understand that as a community, Black teachers are ready to lead. Honouring voices is very important as there may be answers that some boardrooms have never discussed. The Association has consultants with world knowledge,

and a passion to speak the truth no matter how uncomfortable it may seem in the process. The Association can support many communities by being empathetic and less restrictive of the communities desiring support. True solidarity is not a hashtag, but rather diversifying staff and changing all policies that promote, endorse, or allow systemic racism to exist. That is Andrew’s passion and the current focus of his Master’s degree studies. He hopes to pursue this further and find more people willing to make society fair, equitable, accepting, and humane for everyone.

Andrew believes that it is important for all community members to be present in people’s lives. This is ideal because when there are absences, things can become challenging. The joy that youth feel when someone from their family is at their games, recitals, practices, events and graduations is incomparable. However, there are challenges that many Black men, especially fathers, face. Andrew indicates that “as a community, we need to rethink mental health support, for parents and children, so we can better understand ourselves and where we are all coming from.” He believes it is important for Black parents to be present in the lives of their families because parents are needed, children need to be loved and adult eyes are the eyes that make one believe that a person can do anything and become anything.

Andrew will spend Father’s Day with his beloved family, probably watching a Disney movie with some BIPOC characters. Influences in his life are Tupac Shakur and Bob Marley. Shakur’s words are tattooed on his back and Andrew likes “rebels with a cause.” Andrew states that “I wouldn’t say that they changed my life as much as they reinforced my beliefs about life and what it could be for our community. Reflection is essential and I am proud that these two kings have been a profound part of my life.” No doubt, Andrew will be making profound impacts on other lives as well.

Smell that summertime sizzle!