Two Washington Black Male Educators Honored
Families in Kent and Seattle schools can see recognized Black male leaders at work in district offices and classrooms.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Administration
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ACE Academy, a Seattle-based nonprofit supporting Black male youth and adults, named Daman Hunter its 2026 Black Male Administrator of the Year and Ryland Brown its 2026 Black Male Educator of the Year. Hunter is an associate superintendent in the Kent School District, and Brown teaches at O'Dea High School in Seattle.
Why it matters
ACE established these statewide awards to recognize educators and administrators whose work contributes to schools and communities across Washington state. The honors also aim to highlight Black male leadership in education and encourage more Black men to pursue careers in the field, which matters for families because Black men make up less than 2% of educators nationwide.
Daman Hunter has held leadership roles in the Tukwila, Federal Way and Highline school communities over a career spanning several decades. Ryland Brown teaches Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 at O'Dea High School and also serves as a basketball coach.
The players
ACE Academy
A Seattle-based nonprofit that supports Black male youth and adults and runs statewide awards recognizing Washington educators and administrators.
Daman Hunter
An associate superintendent in the Kent School District with decades of experience in school leadership across the Tukwila, Federal Way and Highline communities.
Ryland Brown
A mathematics teacher and basketball coach at O'Dea High School in Seattle who teaches Algebra 1 and Algebra 2.
The details
The awards were selected through a competitive peer-selection process, meaning nominees were chosen by fellow educators rather than by a single committee. Brown uses the teaching strategy "think, ink & share" in his mathematics classes. Brown's grandmother taught at Garfield High School and his uncle served as a principal in Seattle schools, connections the source ties to his path into education.
Timeline
2026: ACE named Hunter and Brown its 2026 Educators of the Year.
The Home Front
Family decisions about schools often weigh the demographics of teaching staff alongside curriculum and location. This recognition adds visibility to Black male educators in Washington's district and building leadership roles.
If your child attends a Washington school, you can ask the school or district about its teacher and administrator staffing and mentorship programs during routine conferences. Families interested in recognizing local educators can nominate staff through their school district's own recognition channels.
The takeaway
Black men remain under 2% of the nation's educators, so local recognition of Black male teachers and administrators is one visible signal of who leads Washington classrooms. Families can ask their school which staff members are supported through mentorship and leadership pipelines.
Further reading
For more on how school leadership is organized, see the Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Seattle Medium.
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