Seattle Public Schools’ Office of African American Male Achievement
About AAMA
Seattle Public Schools’ Office of African American Male Achievement (AAMA) was created in August 2019 as an innovation center within SPS focused on cultivating the strengths of Black boys and teens. As a driver of systemic change, professional development, and direct support, AAMA provides resources, focused programming, and data capacity. The Office’s small team also works with students, families, and educators to promote school culture, conditions, competencies, and community connections that enable students to succeed.
Seattle Public Schools is the first district in Washington, and one of only a few across the nation, to create an office that intentionally cultivates the cultural and academic strengths of Black male students while simultaneously addressing their needs. The Office was established with philanthropic funding stewarded by the Alliance, exceeding an initial goal to raise $3.7M as of December 2022.
Mission and Theory of Change
The Office approaches this work through a framework for systems change rather than student intervention. The Office works to ensure that the educational environment across the system supports the brilliance and excellence of Black boys and teens.
The Office is one department within a larger ecosystem of Seattle Public Schools services. The generational work of rectifying systemic educational inequities began long before AAMA’s establishment and will continue long after. The Office believes that effective equity strategies—those that shift practices, policies, and programs to support communities who have been historically least served—can facilitate the redesign of schools to benefit every learner.
Reports
The investment in and implementation of a targeted universalism approach by Seattle Public Schools has made a lasting impact on Black boys & teens across the district. Read more in the reports from the Office below.
Seeding Success, The Story of SPS’ Office of AAMA (2024)
By listening to the expressed concerns of Black male students, their families and their community, SPS created a framework that aligns work and practices across the district to support SPS in developing the culture, conditions, staff competencies, and community connections in place for all Black male students to excel.
Since 2019, the Office has begun to make strides system-wide in increasing Black male student outcomes and enhancing experiences. The release of the Seeding Success report illustrates that progress.
The report describes the Office’s work, reflects on efforts to institutionalize student and family-led practices, and provides generalizable insights for educators and practitioners. The report was funded by investments stewarded by the Alliance and tells a K12 systems change story.
Our Voice, Our Vision Community Engagement Report (2021)
Seattle Public Schools’ Office of African American Male Achievement published the “Our Voice, Our Vision: Strategies for Supporting Black Excellence in Seattle Public Schools,” report in 2021 that explores how Black boys, teens and families experience the SPS school system.
Research findings and recommendations are products of voices and insights from the Black community. This report represents an ongoing conversation about addressing inequities, building just schools, and leading from the insights of students and families.
“Our Voice, Our Vision” offers insights toward achieving the racial equity goals outlined in SPS’ Seattle Excellence strategic plan and laid the groundwork for AAMA’s multi-year plan to implement structural changes in the district.