EPISODE · May 5, 2026 · 45 MIN
#68 | Does Your Teaching Match Who’s in the Room? — w/ Principal Baruti Kafele
from unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students · host Ashanti Branch - Taking Off The Mask
In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti Branch sits down with Principal Baruti Kafele, a 40-year educator, author, speaker, and school leader.Principal Kafele reflects on the mask he wore as a principal... “I’m good”, while carrying the hidden pressures of leadership, staff conflict, community expectations, and student needs.He shares how reading Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Dr. Carter G. Woodson changed his life and led him into education. He also challenges educators to make learning culturally relevant, build real relationships with students, and ask whether their teaching truly matches who is in the room.In this episode, we talk about:The hidden mask of school leadershipWhy educators must understand students’ culture and lived experiencesHow to make learning relevant and meaningfulThe power of relationship before instructionPrincipal Kafele’s Young Men’s Empowerment ProgramWhy administrators must coach teachers, not just evaluate them0:00 Welcome and introduction 3:36 The mask of “I’m good” 8:56 Navigating school politics and union relationships 14:30 How education found Principal Kafele 17:42 Discovering Dr. Carter G. Woodson 20:32 Putting students in the lesson 23:04 Becoming someone students can hear 24:20 Young Men’s Empowerment Program 30:00 Does your teaching match who’s in the room? 35:50 Principals as instructional coaches 41:07 How to connect with Principal KafeleConnect with Principal Baruti KafeleWebsite: principalcafele.com Facebook / Instagram / LinkedIn / X: @principalkafele YouTube: AP & New Principals AcademyConnect with Ashanti BranchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksX: https://x.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/Support the Podcast & Ever Forward ClubHelp us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/supportConnect with Ever Forward ClubInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclubFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclubX: https://x.com/everforwardclubLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/#UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #PrincipalKafele #MillionMaskMovement #MaleEducators #SchoolLeadership #CulturallyRelevantPedagogy #EverForwardClub
What this episode covers
In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti Branch sits down with Principal Baruti Kafele, a 40-year educator, author, speaker, and school leader.Principal Kafele reflects on the mask he wore as a principal... “I’m good”, while carrying the hidden pressures of leadership, staff conflict, community expectations, and student needs.He shares how reading Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Dr. Carter G. Woodson changed his life and led him into education. He also challenges educators to make learning culturally relevant, build real relationships with students, and ask whether their teaching truly matches who is in the room.In this episode, we talk about:The hidden mask of school leadershipWhy educators must understand students’ culture and lived experiencesHow to make learning relevant and meaningfulThe power of relationship before instructionPrincipal Kafele’s Young Men’s Empowerment ProgramWhy administrators must coach teachers, not just evaluate them0:00 Welcome and introduction 3:36 The mask of “I’m good” 8:56 Navigating school politics and union relationships 14:30 How education found Principal Kafele 17:42 Discovering Dr. Carter G. Woodson 20:32 Putting students in the lesson 23:04 Becoming someone students can hear 24:20 Young Men’s Empowerment Program 30:00 Does your teaching match who’s in the room? 35:50 Principals as instructional coaches 41:07 How to connect with Principal KafeleConnect with Principal Baruti KafeleWebsite: principalcafele.com Facebook / Instagram / LinkedIn / X: @principalkafele YouTube: AP & New Principals AcademyConnect with Ashanti BranchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksX: https://x.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/Support the Podcast & Ever Forward ClubHelp us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/supportConnect with Ever Forward ClubInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclubFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclubX: https://x.com/everforwardclubLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/#UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #PrincipalKafele #MillionMaskMovement #MaleEducators #SchoolLeadership #CulturallyRelevantPedagogy #EverForwardClub
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#68 | Does Your Teaching Match Who’s in the Room? — w/ Principal Baruti Kafele
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