Empowering Educators

Resources, guides, and videos to help educators have difficult conversations around race and racism.

First Book Presents Empowering Educators

In 2019, First Book surveyed its network of educators, to provide resources that would help them proactively engage their students in conversations about race. Through the survey, 66% of educators stated they wanted to proactively discuss race and racism in their classroom; with 76% of educators requesting resources and tools to have effective, age-appropriate conversations with their students. Additional survey findings helped create a series of free resources that were informed by leading anti-bias and antiracist (ABAR) experts like Britt Hawthorne, Tiffany Jewell, Liz Kleinrock, Cornelius Minor, Catherine Wigginton Greene, and Christine Platt.

In 2020, First Book launched the first year of its Empowering Educators series, which included a Guidebook on Race & Racism, special edition paperback #OwnVoices stories, and the first part of a digital series on race and racism. In 2021, we have continued to expand the dialogue and provide educators with additional real-life resources and examples.

The program has continued to provide invaluable resources for difficult conversations and in 2021, First Book won a Gold Halo Award for the program from Engage for Good.

Explore our Empowering Educators resources designed to assist our Network of educators.

A Convening on Racial Equity in Education
Presented in partnership with American University's Antiracist Research and Policy Center (ARPC).

This live webcast, hosted in August 2020, reached over 7,000 educators globally to provide valuable insights and support for educators looking to have effective and courageous conversations on race and social justice in the classroom.

Making Diverse and Inclusive Titles Accessible

As a companion to the Empowering Educators Collection, First Book have selected five of the most popular diverse titles on the First Book Marketplace and re-issued them in first-ever, affordable paperback editions.

The paperbacks selected for the inaugural launch are warm, affirming picture books that explore meaningful elements of identity that will be relatable to all readers. Pizza Hut selected these titles from First Book’s Stories for All Project™, which curates new, relevant, high-quality books representing diverse characters, voices, and life circumstances and makes them available and affordable to educators who support kids in need.

“From the neighborhood to the national level, America is on a critical journey:  from identifying racism, to deeper understanding – and finally to dismantling systemic racism. To support this journey, First Book is excited to launch an unprecedented effort to empower educators – and the children they serve. These resources, and the important conversations they enable, will inspire and enlighten all of us as we work together with our educators to elevate equal opportunities for all of our children.”

Kyle Zimmer, president, CEO and Co-founder of First Book