The Building Our Network of Diversity (BOND) project and Bowie State University (BSU) will host the
BOND Academy 2025 at BSU from April 25 to 27, 2025. The event is open to educators and those interested in education.
The program started when a group of Black Maryland educators noticed that Black male educators were either leaving voluntarily or were not meeting the professional teaching standards for the districts where they were teaching. A focus group revealed many reasons for the departures, but largely the feeling of isolation.
The educators developed BOND Academy with data in hand to create "a circle of brotherhood, mentorship, scholarship, leadership, networking, and professional collegiality," says project founder Dr. Inger Swimpson.
While the racial and ethnic diversity of America's teachers has increased in recent decades, Black men remain among the most underrepresented demographic in teaching compared to their percentage of the general and student population.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics’ National Teacher and Principal Survey, in the 2020–2021 school year, Black, non-Hispanic men accounted for 1.3% of the nation's 3.8 million public school teachers. Black, non-Hispanic men comprise 6.1% of the general US population.
Black women, meanwhile, made up 4.8% of all public school teachers and 6.5% of the general population. Black men and women comprise 6.1% of all public school teachers and 12.6% of the US population.
The BOND Project champions the need for diverse voices in education, focusing on recruiting, developing, retaining, and empowering of non-White male teachers. However, its mission impacts every educator working to make classrooms inclusive and inspiring for all.
During the three-day weekend project, networking opportunities with peers, mentors, and collaborators will be available. Power-packed topics will include:
Game-Changing Instructional Strategies: Leave with practical techniques to elevate your classroom practice.
Pathways to Leadership: Hear from trailblazers about how you can advance your career and make an even more significant impact.
Cultural Competency & Social-Emotional Learning: Learn how to create safe, supportive environments where every student can thrive.
Building a Network That Lasts: Connect with educators from across the nation who, like you, are driven to make a difference.
The conference says Swimpson is dedicated to creating a more inclusive and equitable education system. BOND Academy 2025 isn't just a conference—it's a movement to uplift, empower, and unite every educator who believes in the power of change, she added.
