Jorge Santos is a special education math teacher at a high school in Queens, NY. His roles have included being a Peer Collaborative Teacher, Grade Team Leader, Restorative Justice Coordinator and member of the instructional leadership team. Jorge’s main focus is centering curriculum and pedagogy around equity and restorative justice practices.

 

As a teacher leader, he’s developed schoolwide training to support teachers in equity practices and dismantle structures limiting student opportunities. The equity practice areas include “student representation, collaborative work, affirming and celebrating students, teacher practices, and school values”. These practices are the emphasis of professional development inquiry cycles to create classrooms of inclusivity and community. Jorge leads this work through lab classrooms and supporting colleagues in implementing a practice in their classrooms. 

 

Jorge is developing math curriculum that centers around identity building and multi-racial narratives. He’s implemented Indigenous and African cultures into math classrooms.  

 

Jorge was published by EducationPost.org, Parents.com, and Teach for America. He was featured in publications: Time Magazine’s, “You Can’t Be Silent. Schools Brace for the Presidential Election Aftermath.” and Mic.com’s “The Instagramification of the Protest Movement”. 

 

Jorge was a panelist for the NYC Men Teach event, “Decolonizing The Curriculum” and a presenter for “Moment to Movement” featuring Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, and Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings. At the EL Educational National Conference, he presented his interdisciplinary work that increased student engagement. Jorge presented at the 15th Annual CUNY Black Male Initiative Conference, addressing the need of male educators of color.

 

Jorge has been recognized and honored for his work by receiving the Leaders in Education Award (L.E.A.D.)  from St. John’s University for 2024, the finalist award for the Flag Award for Teaching Excellence for 2023, the finalist award for the Greg Ferrell Award by the NYC Outwardbound Network in 2021, and the Professional of the Year by the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations in 2021.

Jorge published his first children's book “Soy Bella”, a story celebrating the diversity and culture of Latinos. It’s a hope of his to diversify literature for youths.

 

Jorge’s Instagram @RestoringRacialJustice, is a platform where he talks about his work in engaging students of color through equity and restorative justice.