Men of Color in Educational Leadership (MCEL) is an organization focused on increasing student success by increasing the number of ethnic-minority men in educational leadership roles. MCEL provides professional development and networking opportunities while working with other partner organizations to hire an additional 1 million teachers of color.

History

Men of Color in Educational Leadership was formed in 2017 after colleagues Harrison Peters and Steve Gering spoke with other male educators of color about forming an operating to network and engage with each other. ¹ MCEL states that fewer males of color are seeking to enter the teaching profession, male educators of color are more likely to leave the field than other demographics, and that by 2030 almost no educational leaders will be men of color. ²

MCEL’s goal is to increase the quality of student success by providing leadership skills, knowledge, and support to male educators of color. ³ MCEL seeks to increase the number of men of color in educational leadership roles and provide support to these educators throughout their career. ⁴

Organization

Men of Color in Educational Leadership is comprised of superintendents, district-level administrators, principals and assistant principals, higher education administrators, educational technology leaders, and members of educational nonprofits. ⁵ By providing networking and professional development opportunities, MCEL seeks to increase the number of male educational leaders. ⁶

MCEL currently has active members in at least 19 states and the District of Columbia. ⁷ As of 2023, MCEL claims that it has conducted more than 5,000 hours of leadership development and executive coaching, assisted in at least 80 promotions to school leadership and district executive level positions, and has at least 250 education leader members. ⁸

MCEL lists strategic partners as many left-of-center organizations including the Hunt Institute, The New Teacher Project, Center for Black Educator Development, The Education Trust, Latinos for Education, New Leaders, and Teach Plus. ⁹ These groups, along with the MCEL, support the “One Million Teachers of Color Campaign” launched in late 2021 to hire one million teachers of color in the 2020s funded by a $9 million grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. ¹⁰

Conferences

In 2021, Men of Color in Educational Leadership held the organization’s first conference in Tampa with another held in 2022. ¹¹ In 2023, MCEL’s initiated two conferences, one for school administrators, and an annual conference in Orlando. ¹²

Finances

In 2021, Men of Color in Educational Leadership had net assets of $48,356. ¹³ According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2021 MCEL recorded $139,953 in revenue and $95,776 in expenses. ¹⁴ In 2020, the Men of Color in Educational Leadership raised $4,752 in revenue and $1,817 in expenses. ¹⁵

Leadership

Harrison Peters is a co-founder of Men of Color in Educational Leadership and has been president and CEO since 2021. ¹⁶From 2020 through 2021, Peters was state turnaround superintendent in the Providence, Rhode Island public schools. ¹⁷ From 2016 through 2020, Peters was deputy superintendent chief of schools at Hillsborough County, Florida public schools. ¹⁸ Peters was chief of schools in Houston from 2014-2016 and Chicago public schools from 2010-2014. ¹⁹ Previously, Peters was a principal in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina schools and Orange County, Florida public schools. ²⁰

1. “Our Story.” Men of Color in Educational Leadership. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://mcelleaders.org/about-us/.
2.  “The MCEL Provocation.” Men of Color in Educational Leadership. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://mcelleaders.org/about-us/.
3. “Our Solution.” Men of Color in Educational Leadership. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://mcelleaders.org/about-us/.
4. “Our Solution.” Men of Color in Educational Leadership. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://mcelleaders.org/about-us/.
5. “Our Objective.” Men of Color in Educational Leadership. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://mcelleaders.org.
6. “Our Story.” Men of Color in Educational Leadership. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://mcelleaders.org/about-us/.
7. “MCEL’s Footprint.” Men of Color in Educational Leadership. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://mcelleaders.org.
8. “Our Successes.” Men of Color in Educational Leadership. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://mcelleaders.org.
9. “Partners.” Men of Color in Educational Leadership. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://mcelleaders.org/partners/.
10. “Superville, Denisa. “‘Bold, Audacious Goal’: Coalition Pushes to Add More Than 1 Million Educators of Color.” Education Week. December 21, 2021. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/bold-audacious-goal-coalition-pushes-to-add-more-than-1-million-educators-of-color/2021/12.
11. Men of Color in Educational Leadership, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990EZ), 2021; Men of Color in Educational Leadership. “Press Release.” September 14, 2022. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.prunderground.com/registration-open-for-men-of-color-in-educational-leadership-national-convening/00275866/.
12. “Upcoming Events.” Men of Color in Educational Leadership. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://mcelleaders.org/events/.
13. Men of Color in Educational Leadership, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990EZ), 2021.
14. Men of Color in Educational Leadership, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990EZ), 2021.
15. Men of Color in Educational Leadership, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990EZ), 2020.
16. “Harrison Peters.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrison-peters-773b127/; Men of Color in Educational Leadership, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990EZ), 2021.
17. “Harrison Peters.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrison-peters-773b127/
18. “Harrison Peters.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrison-peters-773b127/.
19. “Harrison Peters.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrison-peters-773b127/.
20. “Harrison Peters.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrison-peters-773b127/.