In The News
This Haverford teacher didn’t have Black role models in school. Now he’s a finalist for National Teacher of the Year.
Pennsylvania
•Mar. 10, 2026The Southwestern PA - Belonging, Empowerment, and Mentorship Network
The Belonging, Empowerment, and Mentorship (BEAM) Network is a community in SWPA to support educators of color, rooted in belonging and care. We foster connection, mentorship, leadership, and a shared space where educators can be fully seen, feel supported, and empowered to thrive personally and professionally.
Who We Are
The mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that advance equity, opportunity, and student success.
In pursuing our mission, Teach Plus is guided by our Student Opportunity Mandate: All students should have the opportunity to achieve their potential in an education system defined by its commitment to equity, its responsiveness to individual needs, and its ability to prepare students for postsecondary success.
Why BEAM?
In Southwestern Pennsylvania, the gap between the diversity of our students and the educators who serve them is stark. While nearly 38 percent of students in Allegheny County identify as students of color, only 4.6 percent of teachers do. This disparity is not only about numbers, it’s about belonging, identity, and opportunity.
Research and lived experience confirm what many of us know to be true:
- Teachers of color bring unique strengths to schools and students. They serve as role models, connect deeply with families, and create classrooms where culture and identity are affirmed. Yet, far too many teachers of color face barriers that make their work isolating, exhausting, or unsustainable.
That’s where BEAM (Belonging, Empowerment, And Mentorship) comes in. Rooted in the SWPA region, BEAM is designed to build bridges of support and solidarity for teachers of color.
Through affinity spaces, mentorship, and leadership development, BEAM creates:
- Belonging – spaces where teachers feel seen, supported, and valued
- Empowerment – tools, confidence, and networks to sustain and advance teachers in their careers
- Mentorship – intergenerational support that nurtures growth and resilience
As one Allegheny County teacher shared: “We may be small in numbers, but we are mighty in impact. Our students need us and we need spaces where we can thrive.”
Rooted in the SWPA Region to Build Bridges!
BEAM is a network of belonging and empowerment that is dedicated to supporting educators of color. By fostering connection and mentorship, BEAM creates the support systems educators need to thrive personally and professionally.
For information contact: Dr. Aaron Johnson – Teach Plus PA Program Director, ajohnson@teachplus.
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