African American Male Achievement (AAMA)
The Office of African American Male Achievement (AAMA)
How AAMA Works
The 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. AAMA approaches this work through a framework for systems change rather than student intervention
AAMA’s Mission
AAMA works to ensure that the educational environment across the system supports the brilliance and excellence of Black boys and teens.
AAMA 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.
Seattle Public Schools is the first district in Washington state, and one of the few across the nation, to create an office that intentionally cultivates the cultural and academic strengths of African American male students while simultaneously addressing their needs.
Our Voice, Our Vision is the department’s first community report exploring how our Black boys, teens, and families experience the school system and has become foundational research for the school system.
Four Strategic Areas of Focus
AAMA’s work is grounded in four values: culture, conditions, competencies, and community connection.
Community-Shaped Strategy
We actively involve Black students, families, partners, community elders, and the greater Seattle community in building a system that celebrates the brilliance of Black boys and teens throughout SPS. Community insights have shaped our five strategy areas. Learn more about our strategies in a forthcoming strategy update report, January 2024. AAMA supports district academic and social goals in its efforts to
- Lead from the vision of Black boys and teens
- Cultivate Black family power, trust, and district accountability
- Implement asset-based measures, equitable research, and communication
- Provide culturally relevant mentoring for Black boys and teens
- Support cross-divisional learning and connection for impact