Ambereen Khan-Baker

When Ambereen Khan-Baker was a classroom teacher, which she was for 14 years in Maryland, her only opportunities for professional growth, especially as an educator of color, were through her union. 

“That is the reason I so profoundly believe in the work I do with affiliates,” she says. 

Currently, Ambereen supports NEA affiliates in developing and implementing learning systems and structures. She hates to use the word “PD” because PD has negative connotations for educators.

What she’s talking about is professional learning for educators. It’s about making our members into better educators for their students, but it’s also about growing and strengthening our affiliates.

Is there a need for trauma-based pedagogy, for example? Ambereen works with affiliates to identify and meet those needs, and then build a pathway for members to become teacher-leaders who will sustain this work.

Our members don’t always see themselves as activists. They may hesitate to speak at their state houses. 

“But professional learning? Mentoring? Coaching? Giving them opportunities to lead? This is their jam!” says Ambereen. “And for our affiliates, these are organizing opportunities!” 

For Ambereen, this is personal. Her 12-year-old son, Adnan, is a public school student, and her 3 year-old, Aleem, is a future public school student. Supporting our NEA members and affiliates means supporting the educators who also teach her children.