They’re called “warm demanders” and “cultural guardians,” polite nods to the additional roles with which African-American and Latino teachers – often the only teachers of color in their schools – are typically tasked: disciplinarian, mentor, translator.
Lawrence Battle, a 29-year-old African-American social studies teacher at YES Prep's White Oak campus in Houston, would prefer to see those roles be ones of leadership positions: instructional coach, principal, school administrator.
