The Teachers Black Students Need

"An exceptionally thoughtful approach to ensure that students thrive! Robbins provides a practical and evidence-based approach that allows educators to create the conditions necessary for Black students to achieve success. Our students deserve nothing less than educators who believe in them, address microaggressions and bias, and protect them from harm. In doing so, we meet the needs of our Black students and foster their greatness."

Douglas Fisher, Professor, San Diego State University

"I entered education in 1988 as a 5th grade teacher in Brooklyn, NYC, and since that day, my underlying challenge as a teacher and a principal has been the challenge of closing the racial gap in achievement with Black children being perennially on the wrong side of this gap. Many have made the effort offering earnest solutions over the years toward closing the racial gap in achievement but here we are in 2024 and the gap I was introduced to in 1988 continues to persist. To that end, I find Dr. Robbins book to be rather fascinating where instead of focusing on the teaching and learning aspect of what Black children require in the classroom, he’s approaching the achievement gap from the perspective of the sort of teachers that Black students need. This translates into the difficult, uncomfortable, courageous conversations that not everyone wants to have, but Dr. Robbins meets it head on with sound strategy, advice and guidance. For that reason, I recommend this book with zero hesitation."

Principal Baruti Kafele, Education Consultant, Author, Retired Principal

"In The Teachers Black Students Need, Dr. Zachary Scott Robbins masterfully addresses the urgent need for educators who truly understand and support the unique experiences of Black students. This book is not just a guide—it’s a call to action for teachers to reflect deeply on their practices, challenge systemic biases, and commit to fostering environments where Black students can thrive both academically and personally.

Dr. Robbins’s insights, drawn from his lived experience as an educator and parent, resonate powerfully with the concept of “Racial Battle Fatigue,” a term I coined to describe the cumulative emotional, psychological, and physical toll of racial microaggressions on individuals from racially minoritized groups. By acknowledging the harsh realities that Black students face, Dr. Robbins offers educators practical strategies to affirm their students’ identities, build meaningful relationships, and advocate for equity in the classroom.

This book is essential reading for any educator dedicated to dismantling the barriers that Black students encounter in our schools. Dr. Robbins provides not only a critique of current educational practices but also a blueprint for creating a more just and inclusive educational system. I commend this work to all who are committed to making a lasting impact on the lives of Black students."

Dr. William A. Smith, Chief Executive Administrator at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute; Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Education, Culture, & Society at the University of Utah; Pioneer of the Racial Battle Fatigue Framework

“I was intrigued, captivated, and drawn to this book that will help fellow educators expand, inform, and improve their practice in today's complex educational setting. Throughout The Teachers Black Students Need, Dr. Robbins stresses the importance of educators advocating for Black students in the face of restrictive laws and policies that limit discussions on race and history. He boldly calls on educators to recognize and respond to racial trauma and discusses the need for culturally affirming relationships between teachers and Black students. As a life-long educator, I appreciated the reminder of how delicate these relationships can be.

This book emphasizes the need for an educational approach that is supportive, inclusive, and responsive to the unique challenges faced by Black students, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey Dr. Robbins so eloquently took me on.”

John Anzalone, Ed.D.

"If you want to receive a deeply personal message from a parent and educator, read this book. Dr. Robbins provides 'windows' and 'mirrors' from his lived experience as an African-American parent and educator. Perspective is powerful."

Dr. Peter Dallas Finch, Superintendent, West Valley School District #208, Washington

"It is with great honor that I write this statement of endorsement for The Teachers Black Students Need, by Dr. Zachary Robbins! The contents herein are thoughtful, common sense and certainly possess great awareness of best teaching practices and pedagogy as it relates to student learning. Juxtaposed with real-life experiences and vignettes that are relatable to circumstances we encounter each day with, not only Black Students, but students of ALL ethnicities and life experiences, the stories Dr. Robbins conveys would help a blue-chip experienced educator or a novice teacher learn and evolve to gain empathy so that they can best relate to ALL children. Detailiing common sense practices, readers will enjoy immediate takeaways they could invoke within districts, schools and/or classrooms that not only are beneficial to Black students, but ALL students. The focus is just right considering the decades old systemic achievement gaps and proficiency levels of American African American youth. A must read for ALL educators!"

Dr. Jeffrey Geihs,Executive Director, Nevada Association of School Administrators & CEO, Silver State Education Foundation

"In The Teachers Black Students Need, Dr. Robbins equips educators with powerful tools to transform passive support into active advocacy for Black students. While many may consider themselves champions of racial equality, this book serves as a critical mirror, challenging readers to reflect on whether their intentions are truly manifesting in impactful actions."

Peter Gorman, Cofounder, The Forum for Educational Leadership, and former superintendent, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools