A few months back, someone slid into my inbox with a link to the KIPP Black Educators Conference, telling me I should apply to be a presenter.
I’m not going to lie I was nervous. I’m not a teacher. I never went to college, and I definitely don’t have a degree. I felt like a bit of an outsider looking in, but I decided to go for it anyway. I submitted an application with just the basics of what I wanted to say, and somehow, they accepted it.
Suddenly, it was real: I was going to be a presenter.
The "Last Minute" Strategy
I had about two months to prep, and in true fashion, I waited until the absolute last minute. I’d never done a presentation in front of educators before, let alone a crowd that large. My nerves were high, so I made a decision: I’m just going to talk about what I know and be myself.
I knew my message had to be about one thing: Connection. In my eyes, building a real connection with kids is the most important thing you can do. It’s the bridge that closes the gap most of our education systems are currently falling into.
Windows, Mirrors, and... Star Wars?
Two days before the deadline, I hopped on Canva to build the slides. I felt like it was missing some "oomph," so I added videos from my program to show the real-world impact. Then, I took a risk I added clips from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. To me, it’s actually one of the best "teacher and student" movies ever made.
I used those clips to talk about Windows and Mirrors.
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Mirrors: Students need to see themselves reflected in their teachers and their curriculum.
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Windows: Most classrooms are just windows places where kids look at a world they don’t feel a part of.
I told them that if we don't bridge that gap, we lose the kids.
The Result: Real Recognize Real
The presentation was a massive hit. They loved it! It was a wild feeling—here I am, the guy without the degree, teaching a room full of people who went to school for years something they didn’t know.
But the highlight of the day wasn't just my own session. It was seeing the room. I’ve never seen that many Black men passionate about teaching and education in one place. These weren't "stuffy" or boring guys; they were regular, intelligent men doing incredible work in their communities.
Shoutout to KIPP for building such a strong network of Black male educators. It was truly impactful. Not only did they learn something from me, but I walked away having learned a lot from them, too.
The lesson? Don't let a lack of credentials stop you from sharing your truth. Your experience is the best degree you can have.