Nationally known as the Hip Hop Principal, Dr. Shango A. Blake-CEO of TRU SK Consultants, LLC is a much sought-after speaker about issues in urban education; from pioneering unique collaborations between students, teachers, parents, and the community towards creating and sustaining a vibrant academic atmosphere, to his successful tenure as a New York City Principal, he has proven to be a true renaissance educator.
As a Principal, Dr. Blake saw a profound need to institute drastic and creative changes to improve his school’s failing health. Dr. Blake initiated a bold and daring self-created project to integrate a conceptualized Hip Hop based educational program. This program led to the creation of a new curriculum model that included teacher development, parent involvement, and school/community collaboration. His school went from one of the lowest-performing schools in the district to number one in reading and math.
As a result, Dr. Blake has been featured on Oprah Winfrey, People Magazine, 98.7 Kiss FM, The Joey Reynolds Show, WABC Channel 7 and WCBS Channel 2 News. As Chair of the Education and Youth Committee of the Million Man March Coordinating Council of Queens, Dr. Shango Blake has been responsible for the exposure and placement of hundreds of high school students to HBCUs, resolving violent conflict between rival gang members and organizing Youth Empowerment Days.
Dr. Blake has spoken to numerous organizations on a range of topics:
Hip Hop and Education
Transformational Leadership
School Culture
The use of Hip Hop as a Key Strategy in the Whole School Reform Process
The Plight of the Black Male Student
Diversity in the Workforce
Closing School to Prison Pipeline
Crisis in Urban School Leadership
Plight of the Black Administrator
The Contributions of African-Americans to the Economic Development of America
Dr. Shango has also done research and is an expert on Hip Hop and Education. He has formed a study entitled Transformational Leadership: Transmitting an Educational Reform Agenda in a Low-Performing Urban Middle School Using Innovative Strategies, such as Hip-Hop and High-Interest Curriculum.
In addition, for his innovative work in urban educational reform, the Mayor of Yonkers, The City Council of Yonkers, and The Westchester County Legislators honored Dr. Blake. He also received three proclamations citing June 6, 2001, as Shango Blake Day.
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