21st century education expert, Dr. Keon N. Berry, a 26-year-old and sole Gen Z professor at Morehouse College, shares insights on the challenges and opportunities in America’s education system. Dr. Berry is a Morehouse graduate with a MSEd in Education Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania and an EdD in Educational Leadership from Monmouth University. Berry discussed his personal journal as a Black male student who faced systemic barriers but found strength in academic excellence. Drawing from his personal experience as a Black male student who faced systemic barriers, he emphasized the need for educational models that support diverse learning needs while maintaining academic excellence.
He emphasized the urgent need for sustainable funding in early childhood education, noting that 90% of brain development occurs by age 5 and every dollar invested yields an eightfold return. While supporting charter schools as viable 21st century alternative to traditional public education, Dr. Berry cites higher parent satisfaction rates and improved performance among Black students. He expressed concern about potential political changes that could impact educational equity, particularly the proposed dissolution of the Department of Education. Berry stressed the importance of connecting classroom learning to real-world applications, advocated for increased STEM education, and highlighted the value of pre-professional exposure programs.
Key Points
21st Century Education: Early Childhood
• Highlighted critical problems with teacher wages and training
• Emphasized that 90% of brain development occurs by age 5
• Called for increased federal funding, noting every dollar invested yields an 8x return
21st Century Education: K-12
• Predicted increasing emphasis on STEM education
• Advocated for pre-professional early exposure programs
• Stressed the importance of connecting classroom learning to real-world applications
21st Century Education: Charter Schools
• Supported charter schools as valuable educational alternatives
• Cited research showing 82% parent satisfaction rates
• Noted that Black students in charter schools outperform peers by 6% on standardized tests
21st Century Education: Higher Learning & HBCUs
• Discussed implications of potential changes to affirmative action
• Addressed concerns about political pressures on HBCUs
• Analyzed potential impacts of proposed Department of Education dissolution
Monisha J. Brown: Dr. Keon N. Berry, welcome to rolling out.
Dr. Keon N. Berry: Thank you so much. I’m happy to be here.
Monisha J. Brown: You are so relatable, down-to-earth and practical. Those are qualities I love the most about you. Sometimes I forget that you’re this huge scholar, that you hold a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, or that you are a Morehouse Man. It’s not lost, though, because of how you show up. You hold many heavy titles. What was your motivation for pursuing higher education?
Dr. Keon N. Berry: The reality is that many Black boys are not told what they could be good at, but I knew that I was smart. I knew that I was good at school. So, I gave school my best effort. Many other students cared more about sports, music or other extracurriculars.
For me, the extracurriculars were reading the dictionary in my room. I learned that I had a passion for writing and fell in love with words. My passion for education is a deep love for and connection to learning.
Monisha J. Brown: What barriers did you face as a Black male in pursuit of higher education?
Dr. Keon N. Berry: There were many. Research mentions a lot about the adultification and the harsh disciplinary policies on Black males. In many senses, I was a product of that. I can remember teachers and educators, and I dare say this word, almost targeting me. They tried to project onto me that if I didn’t follow the exact course that they felt was best for my life or if I was a little bit too boisterous or energetic, there would be consequences for just being a child.
I’m so proud that I was a young man who had courage and strength. I knew who I was. These things were happening, and my parents didn’t know. In middle school, I attended a different school every year because I really struggled to find my place in the world and to find my niche.
I know what it’s like to be excluded, right? But typically, those people who are excluded were not born to fit in. They were born to stand out.
Monisha J. Brown: I love that you are so transparent about your own experiences. You’re not far removed from being in the education system. You are very young. Are you the youngest professor at Morehouse right now?
Dr. Keon N. Berry: I’m the first Gen Z professor at Morehouse. I’m also the youngest active faculty member. I assume it may be that way for a minute unless someone gets a PhD and gets hired. These graduate programs are so rigorous and take a while. It’s not common for someone to obtain a PhD at 24.
Monisha J. Brown: What does the future of 21st century education look like from early childhood education, elementary, junior high and high school? What does the future look like based on your research and observations?
Dr. Keon N. Berry: Well, I would say with early childhood education, I’m very afraid of the future implications. I think from the beginning, it wasn’t a model that was set up in a sustainable fashion for childcare business owners, or the industry in general, to win.
First, there’s an incredible wage crisis, right? We know that preschool teachers, while their work is so important, are highly underpaid. This goes back to the model not being the most financially sustainable. Early childhood education is worth more than college tuition.
There’s also a piece about teacher training. Some teachers, who work in early childhood, don’t necessarily have the tools, resources or access to obtain the career advancement they’re looking for. Those are some of the challenges.
On the other hand, when we think about the implications of the expense associated with early childhood education there are challenges, as well. We know that parents need to go to work—they need childcare to go to work, right?
Childcare is expensive. Childcare and the workforce are inextricably linked. In the near future, we could see some potentially big problems coming down the line.
Monisha J. Brown: What is your viewpoint on charter schools?
Dr. Keon N. Berry: Before I even get into charter schools, I do want to talk about how the Trump Administration is going to drastically change education. He’s mentioned that he plans to dissolve the Department of Education. It’s going to warrant some significant transitions, if that’s the case. The first thing is decentralization of power.
Education policy is going to shift to the state and local governments. This may mean that wealthier states will make improvements and have greater educational outcomes while poorer states, without funding from federal programs, will continue to have limited resources. Let’s be crystal clear, the Department of Education was started to centralize federal educational programs.
So, if the Department of Education is dissolved, the Title IX funding and different funding streams will be dissolved as well. If this occurs, you can expect to see increased privatization in education, an accelerated growth in charter schools and private voucher programs. Low-income families could face challenges in accessing high-quality education due to the lack of federal equity initiatives.
These initiatives at the Department of Education were established to protect people who might be underserved or underrepresented. A dissolution of the department is going to create an even greater divide if, again, there is no funding to cover or subsidize certain factors that eliminate opportunity or access gap.
Monisha J. Brown: Let’s talk about the collegiate level. You are an HBCU graduate, and you are currently instructing at an HBCU. What are some of the issues that HBCUs are facing or will face in the future?
Dr. Keon N. Berry: Let’s talk about affirmative action. The Century Foundation told us that universities with affirmative action policies report a 20% higher racial diversity rate. What would it mean for us to get rid of some of these standards that affect enrollment in every aspect of the business of a college? It’s concerning.
The research is clear that representation in diversity and inclusion leads to greater outcomes. People need to meet different people from different walks of life. In fact, graduates from diverse institutions are 12% more likely to work in a multicultural setting. The research is clear.
This article has been condensed from an in-depth conversation with Dr. Berry. For the full scope of his transformative insights into the systemic 21st century education challenges and triumphs, including his compelling framework for essential changes, we invite you to experience the complete interview by clicking the video link above.
