Sharif El-Mekki

Sharif El-Mekki is an educator, speaker, and nonprofit leader whose career centers on educational equity and the development of Black teachers. Born and raised in a community of activists, El-Mekki initially planned to pursue law to advance social justice, but a veteran Black educator inspired him to channel his activism into teaching. This decision led to a 26-year career as a teacher and principal in three neighborhood schools in West Philadelphia.

El-Mekki served 11 years as principal of Mastery Charter Shoemaker Campus, which received multiple awards during his tenure, including a bronze medal in the U.S. News & World Report high school rankings. The school was recognized by President Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey and received the EPIC Award for three consecutive years for accelerating student achievement. Shoemaker Campus was also named among the top 10 middle and high schools in Pennsylvania for advancing the achievement levels of African American students. El-Mekki is the second prize winner of TheBestSchools.org's Escalante-Gradillas Prize for Best in Education.

El-Mekki founded "The Fellowship: Black Male Educators for Social Justice" and later launched the Center for Black Educator Development, which focuses on rebuilding the national Black teacher pipeline. The Center works to ensure equity in recruiting, hiring, and retaining educators who reflect the cultural backgrounds and socio-political interests of the students they serve. It provides professional development to Black educators through programs such as paid apprenticeships, last-dollar scholarships, teacher retention bonuses, and fellowships. The Center for Black Educator Development has received over $20 million in donations, including a $1.4 million gift from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and has garnered support from NBC Universal, Nike, the Bezos Family Foundation, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Education.

Throughout his career, El-Mekki has served as a U.S. Department of Education Principal Ambassador Fellow and America Achieves Fellow, and has received citations from the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives. He has served on the Philadelphia Mayor's Commission on African American Males and the board of Excellent Schools PA. His work has been recognized with honors such as the ASU + GSV Innovator of Color Award and the ISTE Impact Award, which acknowledge his contributions to education.

El-Mekki is a public voice on educational justice and Black pedagogy. In his TED Talk, "Reviving the legacy of the Black teaching tradition," he advocates for educational practices rooted in philosophies and values from pre-colonial Africa to historical African American leaders, emphasizing their relevance in serving Black students and promoting equity in education. He has delivered keynote speeches at graduations, spoken at SXSW, and been featured on PBS NewsHour. El-Mekki contributes to the "Philly's 7th Ward" blog and co-hosts the "8 Black Hands" education podcast. His experience in classroom teaching, institutional leadership, and grassroots organizing informs his perspective on the intersection of race, education, and social justice.