Educating the Black Male:
Supporting successful and
Productive Citizens
Dr. Virginia Berry, Current Principal
James Solomon Russell Middle School
Fully Accredited:
J.S. Russell Middle School 2009-2010, 2014-2015
Brunswick High School 2013-2014
Society
Learners
Subject matter
Without seeming biased or discriminatory, I
see that it is very difficult for students,
especially African-American male elementary
students, to perform at their maximum
potential under such adverse conditions; yet
the principal’s goal is to ensure that each child
does meet with quality educational experiences
that allow opportunities to maximize potential
and ultimately academic and social grown.
-Col. Pharisse Berry
 Jailed kids= $8 Billion/YR
 54,000 kids behind bars
 Black kids 2X more likely to be arrested than white
kids
 Prison Kids: A Crime Against America’s Children
Fusion
Ministers, City Leaders, Higher Education
(Universities & Junior Colleges)
Teacher
Professional Arena Football Player
Mentor/ Co-founder of Berry's Mentor Program
Assistant Principal of Russell and Brunswick County High School.
Both Fully Accredited Schools Under my leadership.
Director of Continuing Education at Virginia State University
Dr. Salas Christian
John Hicks
Counselor, Student Development
Southside Virginia Community College
Jamal Smith
Teacher
Community Leaders including Pastors, Superintendent,
Principals, etc.
Principal
Dr. Rev. Jeremiah Tillman
First Baptist Church
Harrison Street
Petersburg, Virginia
President of the United States of America
Barack Obama
 The single most important factor in determining the
learning environment is teacher behavior.
Intentionally or unintentionally, teachers’ verbal and
nonverbal behaviors influence student behaviors.
 Experience is not the
only factor inherent
in the preparation of
Planning
 If “gut-reactions” fail
to invoke desired
results and “proven
methods” cease to
work, then what?
 Black/African American= 288 students (73%)
 White= 91 students (24%)
 American Indian= 1 student (0.2%)
 Hispanic= 9 students (2%)
 English Language Learners= 7 students (2%)
 Special Education= 60 students (16%)
 Free and reduced lunch= 100%
*Physiological Needs
-Hunger
-Thirst
-Breathing
*Safety and Security Needs
-Protection from injury, pain, extremes of heat and cold
*Belonging and Affection Needs
-Giving and receiving love, warmth, and affection
*Esteem and Self-Respect Needs
-Feeling adequate, competent, worthy
-Being appreciated and respected by others
*Self –Actualization Needs
-Self-fulfillment by using one’s talents and potential
 THE HOME ENVIRONMENT
*Parental Supervision and discipline
-Inadequate
-Too lax
-Too Strict
*Parents were indifferent/hostile to the child
-Disapprove of many things
-Handed out angry physical punishments
*Family operated only partially as a unit
-Marital relationships lacked closeness
*Parents believed they had little influence on the child
-Blaming peers
 School Environment
*Safety and Security Needs
-Crime
-Violence
-Bullying
-Coercion
*Belonging and Affection Needs
-Interpersonal relationship between teacher and student
-Climate of the classroom
-Teacher’s Verbal and Nonverbal behaviors
 School Environment
*Physiological Needs
-Adequate space, proper lighting and ventilation
-Proper cooling/heating system
-Hunger
-Overcrowding, noise and frequent interruptions
 Letting the wrong people hang around is unfair to all
the right people, as they inevitably find themselves
compensating for the inadequacies of the wrong
people. In that case it can drive away the best people.
Good to Great, Jim Collins (2001)
QUESTIONS?