Research suggests that students of color perform better academically and are disciplined less when they have teachers of color. But there aren’t a lot of teachers of color, especially African-American men. In CMS, just over 5 percent are black men and, nationally, it’s 2 percent. A Charlotte group called Profound Gentlemen is working to strengthen the support system for black male teachers, in hopes of increasing their numbers.

Instead of an office, most days Mario-Jovan Shaw and Jason Terrell can be spotted in coffee shops or restaurants around the city, intensely working on their computers and cell phones. These two former CMS teachers left the classroom because they wanted to create a network where black male teachers could connect with each other for support. Shaw and Terrell say most black men quit because they feel isolated.

“Oftentimes our educators are the only ones in their school building, black males, and can’t relate to anyone,” says Shaw.

“A black man across the hall from me guided me my first, second, and third year. I would not have stayed had it not been for him. I was lucky to have another man of color in my building, but a lot of black men don’t have that," says Terrell.

So this past school year they launched Profound Gentlemen to provide a support network for African-American male educators. Initially the focus was recruitment, but that changed as they delved into research on the issue.

“There’s actually not an issue of black men being interested in education,” Terrell said. “Brothers are interested in giving back to kids. But the issue is being prepared to go in the classroom and also staying invested in education over time.”

Through Profound Gentlemen, Shaw says advice on a lesson plan, help with a problem student or parent, or a pep talk are only a phone call, text message, or computer screen away.

“I get a lot of phone calls every single day,” he said.

Other members, like veteran educators and teachers with specialized classroom training, also give advice. In addition, there are conferences and special events held throughout the year. The group is supported through grants and small contracts with six school districts that include Chicago, Washington, D.C. and CMS.

It’s free to join the organization. The first step is downloading the Profound Gentlemen App. All members are assigned to groups of 20 or fewer. They meet monthly and also use texting or Internet discussions to share resources or encourage members.

“There have been times where we had to discuss or motivate people, like you can do this, don’t give up,” said Raheem Roberts, a first-grade teacher at Sugar Creek Charter School. “We tell them, 'It seems hard but in the end there is a bigger picture you have to realize.'”

Roberts has been teaching for eight years and, for much of that time, has been the only black male at his school. He says in addition to providing classroom support, Profound Gentlemen makes him feel less alone.

“It’s like a community where we can come together and network and collaborate and support one another and share ideas and just be that backbone for the other male educators doing the same thing we’re doing in the classroom and build that community of black, male educators,” says Roberts.

That community started out with 48 black, male educators last year in Charlotte. Shaw says they now have more than 500 members in 26 cities and two other countries. At a group meeting last month in Charlotte, about 70 teachers gathered for a panel discussion on the need for black male teachers.

“I might be the only professional black male that some of our children see on a regular basis and I take that responsibility seriously in how I dress, communicate because they are watching,” Terrell told the in-person and online audience. “I might be countering what they are seeing in other environments.”

Sedgefield Middle School seventh grader Marquise Crawford fits that description. He participated in a video produced by Profound Gentlemen on the issue and spoke at the meeting.

“I feel like the African American teachers really connect with African Americans and I think black men should be in more schools because black male students really need the connections,” said Crawford who wants to be a pilot one day. “I’ll miss that if I don’t have a black male teacher next year.”

Edward Chilton, who was also at the discussion, says he feels more comfortable opening up to his black male teacher about problems, such as his struggles to keep his anger in check.

“I’m not trying to be racist, but a white teacher would tell me I need to calm down and get my act together, but a black male teacher would ask me what’s wrong, what I’m feeling, or where I’m hurting to make me angry. When we get to the bottom of it, I’m usually alright,” Chilton said.

When they were teachers, Terrell and Shaw say many of their students never had black male teachers before them. And Terrell says growing up in Atlanta, he never had a black male teacher until he was a junior in college.

“That changed my life and led to me being a teacher and feeling that it was okay to be smart and be black and male,” Terrell said. “Growing up I hid my smartness because I had to fit an image and being academic wasn’t the thing to do.”

Terrell talks to Profound Gentlemen members about this experience and others to keep them motivated. Teacher Raheem Roberts says it is working.

“Just to know there are hundreds of others out there doing the same work you’re doing makes you feel a part of somewhere you fit in and belong and where the other people look just like you, even if it’s outside of your school,” Roberts said. "I'm part of a community of educators who look like me, who are black and male."

That sense of community is Profound Gentlemen’s mission.