LEWISTON, Maine — Teachers in Lewiston received some encouragement from someone who has had a lot of experiences. From having a rough upbringing and ending up as a drug dealer in Atlanta, to becoming a Harvard educator, Brandon Fleming turned his life around. Now, he shared his inspiring story with Lewiston educators.
The nationally acclaimed author and educator spent Tuesday morning in Lewiston sharing some key points with teachers about how to become better educators.
Fleming said teachers should always focus on building connections with students, rather than fully prioritizing the content. He added teachers should always love first, and teach second.
The renowned educator said teachers should focus on being more compassionate and empathetic with their students and meeting them where they are at, knowing that most of them come from very different backgrounds and upbringings.
"You know, no one becomes passionate about something that's not personal. If we want to make our students passionate about our subjects, we have to make our subjects about our students. That means centering humanity. That means centering culturally relevant teaching. That means making sure that we are speaking directly to the interests and the hearts of young people and finding ways to connect that to the content. One thing I tell educators all the time ... always connections over content, that is how we get results," Fleming expressed.
Regarding tips for students, Fleming said they should focus on finding their voice and making sure they are seen and heard in every space they enter.
Fleming recently wrote a book called "Miseducated: A Memoir."
You can learn more about Fleming and his story here.