When you show up authentically—all out, not afraid that you might be bending the rules or that you’re being too much—you’re going to be that teacher. You’re going to show your students what it’s like to do you: to be unapologetically yourself, joyful, and real. And what more can we want for kids than for them to learn how to unapologetically be themselves?

In today’s system, kids are too often seen as points of data. Sometimes, they’re labeled as inherently bad or mischievous, already set on a dangerous trajectory. But teachers must make the deliberate choice to find and see the best in their students. For educators who are seeking guidance on looking past stale, conventional paradigms, Be THAT Teacher offers a much-needed path to building stronger relationships with students, taking more joy in their work, and rehumanizing learning.

In Be THAT Teacher, Dwayne Reed proves to educators that there is a huge value in being yourself in the classroom. His approach isn’t just about making a splash, it’s an argument that when teachers are authentically and unapologetically themselves in the classroom, they create a more human space, one that allows students to be their best and have the best outcomes.