Tandra Birkett Email and Phone Number

Tandra Birkett is an Educational Consultant with 30 years of experience:  national lecturer, new teacher developer, curriculum writer, workshop presenter and lecturer. Tandra believes that education is transformative and has the ability to help our communities create opportunities for advancement. As a former teacher in the New York City Department of Education, Tandra worked to extend education beyond core academics as she has worked tirelessly to support youth. She piloted the first Empowering Boys class in the NYC Department of Education sponsored by Scholastic Books Inc., focusing the history and literature curriculum on the needs of black and latino boys. Tandra was also selected to be a member of the NYC Dept. of Education task force created to develop the Closing the Achievement Gap Initiative for young men. She also served as a Teen Outreach Pregnancy Prevention Program Coordinator and created the Infinite Queens Program at PULSE H.S. with the purpose of reducing conflict and suspensions for Black and Latino Girls. As a Lead Teacher, Tandra has provided professional development and mentorship in teacher training and new teacher development. Through the Conflict Resolution Program in the Bronx, Tandra is a certified New York State conflict resolution specialist. As part of this initiative, she created a mediation center in South Bronx High School, working to reduce gang and school violence. Because of this, Tandra received the NYC Dept. of Education Bronx Superintendent Leadership Award. In addition for 5 years Tandra served as the Life Skills Trainer for the Transition to Adulthood Program for WildCat Service Corporation, a Division of FedCap in the South Bronx. Tandra also co-wrote the high school curriculum for the Campaign for Fiscal Equity in the landmark case on equal funding for NYC Public Schools and served as a curriculum writer for the New York City Department of education, where she was adamant on including a culturally relevant curriculum to support students of color. As a lecturer Tandra has also presented at the Teachers College, Columbia University Reimagining Education Summit among other educational conferences. Tandra has served her community as an educator, workshop presenter, motivational speaker, organizer, friend, and mentor to young people.  Her role as an educator has grown beyond the youth to include fellow educators, parents, colleges, churches, prisons, and community organizations. As an Educational Activist, Tandra Birkett believes that “Education is the First Form of Action”