Uplifting Voices: Three Black Male Educators on Their Journey

Representation matters. As a Black male educator turned behavior analyst and consultant, I know firsthand how powerful it is for students to see someone who looks like them leading a classroom, a team, or an entire building. For this feature, I had the privilege of speaking with Len Gayle, Eliyon Johnson, and Jerry Davis Jr., three dynamic Black male educators and members of the Toledo Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., whose stories highlight the challenges, benefits, and transformative power of our profession in education.

Finding Their Path to Education

For each of these men, education was not the original plan—but it became the calling.

“I actually went into education because I struggled in my first major, business management,” says Len Gayle, now a veteran dean of students. “I looked back at the subject in high school I enjoyed the most, and it was social studies. I felt I could be successful as a teacher.”

Eliyon Johnson shares a similar pivot: “Teaching actually wasn’t my first path. I graduated with a degree in exercise science, planning to become a physical therapist.… With my background in subbing, coaching, and working in an at-risk youth program, teaching just made sense. So when the opportunity came up, it felt like a no-brainer.”

For Jerry Davis Jr., the end goal was athletics administration: “My end-game was to always be an Athletic Director. The requirements at the time were coaching experience and teaching experience. I knew I’d be coaching eventually, so I tried out substitute teaching and fell in love with it after I realized the impact I was making.”

Strengths That Make a Difference

Each educator pointed to qualities beyond academics.

“My strengths were my knowledge of the subject area, the way I could reach my students, my ability to challenge my students’ way of thinking, and my ability to listen,” says Gayle.

Johnson adds, “My strengths are definitely being able to connect with students and make learning feel more personal and relatable. I’m also a quick learner—‘a sponge’—I can adapt on the fly and adjust to whatever challenges or situations come my way.”

For Davis, patience and authenticity are key: “I believe my strengths as an educator are having patience to listen to students and having the ability to show students that I genuinely care about them.”

Barriers and Benefits of Being a Black Male Educator

The three men describe both opportunities and obstacles.

Gayle: “Benefits—relatability to my students, life experiences. Barriers—small peer group.”

Johnson: “As of now, I’ve really only seen the benefits. If I had to name a challenge, I’d say it’s the pressure that comes with making sure I’m the best role model I can be.”

Davis: “I feel as if Black males can often be looked down upon because of stereotypes like only wanting to teach because of being a coach. Most people believe that if they see a Black educator in the building, then he must have something to do with athletics. At times, that puts a mental strain on Black educators because it’s taken as if we can’t teach.”

Advice for Future Black Male Educators—and How to Recruit More

Each of my colleagues has a distinct message for the next generation.

Gayle: “Plan for life after education when you begin your career. Don’t wait to begin thinking about your next stage. To recruit more Black educators, school districts need to go to HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) and offer incentives.”

Johnson: “I remind them to think about the teachers who did make a difference, the ones they still remember all these years later, and how those teachers made them feel. If someone else was able to leave that kind of mark on you, what’s stopping you from doing the same or even better for your students?”

Davis: “To always be yourself because yourself is more than enough! I would tell other Black males that our youth needs role models like us.”

Beyond the Classroom

These educators’ lives continue to expand beyond teaching.

Gayle reflects: “I thought I would retire as a teacher. But two friends of mine pushed me to challenge myself by entering educational administration. I have been a dean of students for going on 11 years. It’s still education, but from a different vantage point.”

Johnson adds, “Teaching gives me the chance to motivate students toward excellence, but it also motivates me to keep pushing myself. It’s what drove me to pursue my master’s in education and keeps me striving to one day move into administration. On top of that, I also run my own streetwear clothing brand, Deadstock The Last OG.”

Davis sums it up simply but powerfully: “I care about what I do and being a positive role model is something I take seriously.”

Closing Thoughts

Their stories underscore what I see every day through AB Education & Behavior Consulting: when Black male educators are supported, students thrive, schools improve, and communities grow stronger. Len Gayle, Eliyon Johnson, and Jerry Davis Jr. embody the essence of the Instructional Warrior through their resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to the next generation. My hope is that their insights inspire new and veteran educators alike—and help more young Black men see education not just as a job, but as a calling and a legacy.