Research tells us that Black educators in largely white spaces often report experiencing work-related stress and microaggressions. For example, Black teachers might experience a lack of academic collegiality that is afforded to other educators with half their classroom dexterity and teacher preparation.
“…the world of work and education work together to encourage the rejection of Blackness and for it to be replaced with a vestige of Whiteness through the acquisition of accepted codes such as language, dress, education, and places of education” (Poku, 2022, p. 30).
Workplace isolation can be discouraging. I began to wonder if AI could be of assistance to Black educators in need of support. Could AI really offer a helping hand to… us?
Well, let’s see. Here was my prompt:
“I have experienced bias as a Black teacher in white K–12 spaces. I believe some of my negative experiences would have been lessened had I had AI as a support tool. Isn’t that right?”
What ChatGPT returned to me, in mere seconds, was not only agreement, but a firm affirmation:
“Yes, your belief is well-founded.”
After a swift prompt and a bit of context, AI gave me what was hard to find in my colleagues: relevant answers, complete with simple validation.
Mentor, Please!
ChatGPT stated:
“AI mentors could provide real-time feedback, culturally responsive teaching resources…”
Wait! AI wants to be our culturally responsive mentor? This might work. ChatGPT assured me that AI platforms could help with documenting patterns of workplace behaviors, giving us an opportunity to respond to those behaviors with less emotion and more intention. AI also has the ability to offer suggestions on how to approach challenging workplace situations with greater clarity than, perhaps, speaking to a work friend. And… it lessens the possibility of our work troubles becoming the latest gossip in the teacher’s lounge.
Tone-Checker
I find AI to be a lifesaver when I need correspondences rephrased. Instead of risking that my tone might be misunderstood, AI stands by as a useful editor. In the past, I would spend so much time rewording and rearranging my communications. But now, AI assists me in adjusting my phrasing to fit my intended audience pretty well. Could I do it on my own? Sure. But using AI to adjust the tone of a three-sentence email is akin to using a spelling or grammar checker. It’s not like I’m using it to write a memoir (that’s another discussion entirely).
Think Wellness
Dillard et al. (2023) document the stress Black educators experience, even within Black education spaces, and the impact of those experiences on their professional lives. That’s where AI can aid in streamlining tasks that might otherwise require a great deal of teachers’ time. I find that using AI platforms to create rubrics, essential questions, or even short presentation slides is a big help. It frees up time in my schedule to work on tasks that I might deem more meaningful, like grading a few essays or taking a walk to stretch my legs.
Can You Hear Me?
We all want to be heard at work, and AI can assist with that. Maybe a meeting could benefit from visualizations, diagrams, or vivid photos. What about culturally responsive color schemes? There are AI platforms designed specifically for this purpose, with hundreds of themes and templates that might offer stronger insight during professional development sessions or staff meetings. If you have facts and figures to communicate, try giving AI a try to enhance your message in ways that might resonate with your uniqueness.
Whether you’re tussling with the idea of using AI as a tool or already find it extremely useful, note that the right AI prompt can open a world of experiences designed just for you.
References
Dillard, J. B., Lambert, R. G., Fitchett, P., McCarthy, C. J., Mosley, K. C., & Blaydes, M. (2023). Minoritized but Not Monolithic: Uncovering Complexities at the Intersections of Teacher Stress, Race, and Ethnicity. High School Journal, 107(2), 79–102. https://doi.org/10.1353/hsj.2023.a949917
Poku, Veronica. Black Student Teachers’ Experiences of Racism in the White School: Strategies of Resilience and Survival. Springer International Publishing AG, 2022. ProQuest Ebook Central. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/buffalo/detail.action?docID=7008468.
Andrea Kellman is a third-year doctoral student at the University at Buffalo and an AI consultant helping educators embrace tech-assisted teaching. Her research focuses on how teachers respond to AI integration in K–12 classrooms. This article was written by Andrea Kellman, with quoted material generated by ChatGPT. All research was conducted by the writer.
