For teachers of color. By teachers of color.
#TeachingInColor is a professional learning network of educators dedicated to building community, supporting, and advocating for policy changes in the best interest of educators of color and the students they serve.
In 2023, we launched the #TeachinginColor Community, a network of educators of color in North Carolina (and beyond) building a supportive community, sharing resources, and making schools more equitable.
April 25, 2026 in Charlotte, NC
The 2026 #TeachingInColor Summit, themed Sankofa: Looking Back to the Future, was a gathering of educators of color from across North Carolina for a culture-rich, jam-packed day. Held on April 25, 2026, in Charlotte, NC, this event included breakout sessions, a Research Symposium, Educator of the Year Awards, and more!
Stay tuned for more information about next year’s Summit!
#TeachingInColor Educators of the Year
For the last three years, we have had the privilege of honoring outstanding educators of color from across the state with our #TeachingInColor Educator of the Year awards.
Dr. Tristan Hunter,
Halifax County
Phillip Boyd, Jr.,
Forsyth County
Turquoise LeJeune Parker,
Durham County
CiCi Weston,
Buncombe County
2026
Gianna Alicea-Rochelle,
Wake County
2025
Ja’Quez Taylor,
Durham County
2024
Angela Uribe,
Alamance County
Valencia Abbott,
Rockingham County
Dr. Mecca K. Terry,
Robeson County
Dr. Kenya Grant,
Warren County
Franchone Bey,
Mecklenburg County
Read the #TeachingInColor Magazine!
The #TeachingInColor Magazine is a biannual publication that celebrates, amplifies, and spotlights individuals and issues related to educator diversity and retention.
Listen to the #TeachingInColor Mixtape!
The #TeachingInColor Mixtape is the result of educators, musicians, and poets coming together to meditate on the experience of teaching and learning as persons of color. Through virtual jam sessions, the featured artists wrote lyrics together and collaborated on each track.
Diversify the Narrative
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Anjalique Abernathy on Identity and Belonging in Educational Spaces
In the first article in the #TeachinginColor Diversify the Narrative initiative, Durham educator Anjalique Abernathy shares her experiences as a former high school teacher in North Carolina.
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Amanda Aguayo: Painting Pictures of Selfhood
Amanda Aguayo, an art teacher in Orange County, North Carolina, discusses identity in the classroom and advocacy through art.
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TaVshea Smith Talks Community and Connections in Education
TaVshea Smith, an Assistant Professor of Education at North Carolina Central University, talked with CREED about the important role of community and connections in education. -
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Sonia Márquez on Leading with Intention
“Great things don’t happen on accident,” says Sonia Márquez, a principal in Guilford County. “When you aspire to greatness and you have a standard of excellence for yourself and for your team, you have to go out and create that.” In the latest article of our Diversify the Narrative series, Sonia talked with us about the importance of leading with intention.
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Bryan Patton Talks Counseling and Community
Bryan Patton, a middle school counselor in Hillsborough, North Carolina, recently talked with us about his first teacher of color, shifting career focuses, and his experiences as a Black male educator.
Listen to Teachers of Color
In collaboration with We Are the Dream, we hosted a series of listening sessions and have created a digital space to share stories and build community in the hopes that storytelling can become a tool for those who are already doing the work and a jumping point for those who are ready to join.