Amani Jones on Representation and the Role of Black Male Teachers in Education

What I Want to Know, with Kevin P. Chavous

In classrooms across America, only about 1% of teachers are Black men. That gap shapes how millions of students see themselves and their futures.

In this episode, Kevin P. Chavous talks with Ahmoni Jones, a seventh-grade math teacher at Soulsville Charter School in Memphis, who's part of that 1%. Jones grew up in a predominantly Black district, surrounded by teachers who looked like him—but never by a Black man at the front of the room. Now he's changing that story.

They talk about what drew him to teaching, the influence of his parents—both behavior specialists—and the moment he realized the classroom was where he could make a difference. Jones explains how he keeps math alive for kids who usually hate it, why humor works better than fear, and how programs like Memphis Teacher Residency are helping young teachers of color stay in the profession.

It's a conversation about identity, purpose, and the quiet power of showing up for the next generation.

Chapters

00:00 — The beauty of showing up 01:00 — Ahmoni's path to teaching 05:00 — From college gym to classroom 09:00 — Making math make sense 12:00 — Finding balance and support 13:50 — Building a pipeline for Black male teachers

Connect with Ahmoni Jones Soulsville Charter School: https://soulsvillecharterschool.org/ Memphis Teacher Residency: https://memphistr.org/

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