English Student is Inspiring Kids to Read

Junior English and education student Emmanuel Dean ’28 is spending the summer supporting a literacy program for young readers.

By Jessica Weiss ’05

This summer, aspiring educator Emmanuel Dean ’28 is getting a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to inspire young people to read.

As a literacy fellow with New York City-based nonprofit Barbershop Books, the University of Maryland junior has spent the past several weeks creating training materials, supporting instructors and connecting with families as they prepare for Reading So Lit Summer, a free two-week virtual literacy program designed to inspire Black boys to read for fun. 

It’s an opportunity to learn from an organization whose mission closely mirrors his own aspirations as an educator, he said.

“I love helping kids read, and I also love helping other Black males lead as well,” said Dean, a secondary education and English double major. “It’s really fulfilling and I’m learning a lot.”

Dean’s interest in teaching began while in high school in Columbia, Maryland, when he completed an internship at a nearby middle school. Working with seventh-grade gifted English students, Dean said: “I realized I feel like myself in the classroom.”

One student, he recalled, entered the class convinced he hated writing and wanted to drop it. By the end of the year, the student had become one of Dean’s strongest writers.

“It was one of the best experiences in my life,” Dean said.

At Maryland, his interest in literacy continued to grow. Dean joined the College Park Scholars Media, Self and Society program, began tutoring at UMD’s Writing Center and spent last summer teaching reading to fourth graders through Generation Teach.

Last semester, he took the service-learning English course “Writing for Change” with Lecturer Justin Lohr, which partnered UMD students with Northwestern High School students to create public service projects through writing, film and performance. Throughout the semester, students explored how literacy can shape confidence, identity and the way young people understand themselves.

One core idea stayed with him: “The goal isn’t just to teach kids how to read,” he said. “It’s to help them see themselves as readers.”

So when Dean came across Barbershop Books while working in UMD’s Writing Center, the organization’s mission—to inspire Black boys and other vulnerable children to read for fun through culturally responsive, community-based programming—immediately resonated with him. 

Dean emailed founder Alvin Irby directly; he introduced himself, shared his passion for literacy and education, and asked whether there might be an opportunity to get involved. In a few week’s time, Irby created one.

The literacy fellowship has given Dean an opportunity to support research, develop training materials and user guides, and help prepare educators and Black male high school students who serve as reading mentors in the summer program. To Dean’s surprise, one of his favorite responsibilities has been reaching out to families to answer questions, confirm enrollment details and prepare them for the start of the program. 

“It sounds like a mundane task, but just being able to connect with people and actually hear parents excited when they pick up the phone—it’s really touching,” he said. “I know parent outreach will be a big thing for me as a teacher, so I’m hoping that I can start building some of those communication skills now.”

Ultimately, Dean hopes to become part of the small number of Black men in the teaching profession. Nationwide, fewer than 2% of educators are Black men, despite research showing that students can benefit academically and socially from having teachers who reflect their communities and experiences. Dean said statistics like that fuel and clarify his path. 

“I see education as my form of social justice,” he said. “If I can do my part in instilling more positive ideas in students—if I'm able to at least curb some of the hate they might develop toward others or themselves, I will have done my job.”