Today we’d like to introduce you to Roni Burren.
Hi Roni, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began my teaching career in 2002 at Pearland High School. I was an English teacher and a cross-country and track coach. I served in that role for 11 years, but I wanted to impact broader school change. In 2013, I left the classroom and became a curriculum specialist is Dickinson. I served in that role just under a year because I decided to go back to school. I earned a PhD from U of H. During my time as a doctoral student I began doing education activism, serving as an editor for the Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts (TCTELA) journal and consulting. After graduating I began consulting in schools in and around the Houston area. Additionally, I now currently serve as the president of TCTELA — in the organizations 50 year history I’m only the third Black woman to be elected to this role. I’m beyond honored
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey to consulting has been a challenge because of my activism. I’ve always been vocal about the racism that impacts Black students in our schools. I’ve not been afraid to call out publishers, superintendents and principals. I know that makes some schools nervous. I know I’ve lost out on jobs because I refuse to be quiet about the lack of diversity in school leadership, teaching staff and in the books students read.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a school consultant. I go into schools and coach teachers and teacher leaders in all areas of literacy. I’m known for building relationships with kids. When I go into a school I often model good literacy instruction. That means that I get to meet lots of kids. I am able to quickly establish report with kids, get them interested in books and help them find the bravery to write.
I’m also known as the Black book lady. I’m most proud of that name because it came as a result of something I’m most proud of. During hurricane Harvey, I caught wind that many Black children had lost all of their books in the flood. I organized an online giving program and asked people to fill an Amazon wish list full of books. It was such a positive response that I received over 1000 books. A few weeks after the flood I had a book giveaway at my church. The books were free to any black child that came out and they could take as many books as they wanted. I had so many books that I couldn’t give them all the way in one day and so I began carrying them around in my car and my purse everywhere I went. So when I go to schools, I’m able to give books away to kids all the time. And so they called me the black book lady because all of the books that I gave away are by black authors and illustrators.
I think something that sets me apart from others in my field is my willingness to talk openly about the problems that teachers and students are facing in schools. I never talk about it in a way to embarrass or shame teachers and students, but I talk about it openly in a way to shame the system. I talk about it in a way to shame the people, our elected officials, who say they want school improvement.
And another thing that I believe sets me apart is that I always center black children. The school system was never designed for Black people. Since the beginning, black children have been pushed out pushed aside forgotten and have disproportionately suffered at the hands of white supremacy. So when I do the work I’m doing or talk about the work I’m doing I talk about it in terms of what black children need. Because I know if we meet the needs of black children every other child will benefit.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to always check my privilege. I’ve been granted access to so much. Learning that I’ve been given opportunities others only dreamed of reminds me to always speak and teach from a place of understanding and grace.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ronideanburren.com
