Dr. Terence Ngwa brings varied experiences as an educator and organizational leader to his equally varied roles at American University. A former middle school French teacher who served for three years as executive director for the Washington Teachers’ Union, Ngwa now directs AU’s Antiracist Administration, Supervision, and Leadership (ARASL) program and teaches graduate-level education courses. He also runs an education consulting firm focused on organizational development and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A native of Cameroon, Ngwa earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Yaoundé I before emigrating to the United States, where he earned his EdD in Organizational Leadership at Southeastern University. Ngwa is a dedicated lifelong learner who has subsequently added several certificates from Cornell University to his resume.
Dr. Ngwa tells his story below, discussing both his journey to American University and the AU ARASL certificate.
How Cameroon Helped Shape Ngwa’s Understanding of the World
Ngwa’s formative experiences in Camaroon shaped his commitment to transforming education systems. He recounts: “The gap between the haves and the have-nots was very visible, with no guardrails to guarantee equity in education. These early experiences continue to influence my social justice advocacy and the push for equity in education and educational leadership.”
Education in Camaroon has evolved since Ngwa’s youth. “I grew up in an educational system that was greatly influenced by Western standards,” he recalls, contrasting his experiences with the current trend toward “decolonizing the curriculum… In some countries, students have struggled in STEM and other competitive fields due to language barriers. The push for teaching content in languages that students can connect with, while still equipping them with skills in languages other than their first language, would certainly lead to better outcomes.”
Ngwa also learned that “it is important to prioritize representation in educational spaces to establish a cultural connection between students and the adults under whose care they are entrusted. Students learn best when they see themselves in their teachers and school leaders.”
Become a Leader for Equity in Education Today
Advance Your Career With AU’s ARASL Certificate
Teaching Middle School French: A Formative Experience
From 2003 to 2018, Ngwa taught French to DC public middle school students, an experience he found rewarding and enlightening. As he puts it: “The preadolescence and adolescence years are very fragile years in the development of a child. The opportunity to serve and connect with children during these formative years was an honor for me, and being able to support their social, emotional, and academic development was an extremely rewarding experience.”
Middle school is a challenging age. He says that he “saw the goodness in students and the challenges they face in their development. Those experiences continue to influence my interactions with children in the community and the work that I do developing antiracist school leaders.”
Leading the Washington, DC, Teachers’ Union
As executive director of the city’s teachers’ union, Ngwa added policy and administration to his classroom experience to gain a more panoramic view of the education system. He points out that “The work of unions, especially teachers’ unions, extends well beyond fair wages and working conditions. Teachers’ unions play a unique role in ensuring equitable outcomes for the students their members serve.”
How? “Unions build collaborative partnerships with other community groups to hold policymakers accountable in ensuring that the policies they put in place serve the needs of diverse student populations,” Ngwa explains.
Promoting District-Level Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Antiracism
Ngwa combines insights from his experiences in and beyond the classroom to inform his views on implementing diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism policies. He observes: “These are very challenging times that call for honest and difficult conversations. Achieving educational equity does not deprive any student group of their right to learn. Rather, attending to the needs of students who are furthest from opportunity levels the playing field for all students. That is the conversation that our educational leaders must engage in in our diverse communities to better educate the public about the benefits of educational equity, which is intended to guarantee that all students, regardless of their backgrounds and circumstances, thrive.”
He warns of the difficulties in confronting the status quo: “It takes bold, intentional, and collaborative efforts by all stakeholders to bring change to school districts. When students, parents, teachers, and the community rally to demand what their communities need, elected leaders pay attention. Stakeholders must be united and persistent in their demand for what is good for their school districts to effect change in these areas.”
What Distinguishes AU’s ARASL Certificate Program
As director of American University’s Antiracist Administration, Supervision, and Leadership (ARASL) program, Ngwa helps shape the program’s defining features. They include a professional student body who “have already served as teachers, guidance counselors, school psychologists, or instructional coaches in schools that, in most cases, serve students from historically marginalized backgrounds” as well as a curricular focus on “serving the needs of students from diverse racial, cultural, economic, and linguistic backgrounds.”
Ngwa asserts that those who complete the program “leave with the necessary mindset shift to promote equitable practices and dismantle racist practices and policies in classrooms, schools, and school districts.” Graduation is only the start of a lifelong relationship. Ngwa elaborates: “We stay in touch with alumni to provide support and also to track how well they are doing in their respective roles.”
Earn Your ARASL Certificate Online at American University
Why choose American University for your ARASL certificate? Ngwa offers several compelling reasons:
- Outcomes: Ngwa notes that “American University School of Education empowers educators, school leaders, and policymakers to take the lead in changing educational outcomes of marginalized and subordinated populations. The Antiracist Administration, Supervision, and Leadership certificate program (ARASL) prepares education leaders with the required content and knowledge to dismantle racist practices and policies in classrooms and schools.” Among the program graduates, “one was immediately recruited to lead an equity initiative at a local school, while another is transforming young minds as the principal of a diverse neighborhood school in NYC using the skills acquired from our program.”
- Hands-on learning: “In addition to the knowledge and hands-on activities embedded in the program’s coursework, the program includes a clinical internship that gives students the practical tools to effectively apply learning to practice,” Ngwa points out. “Upon completion, candidates are eligible for state licensure in the District of Columbia, which has reciprocity with other states.” He adds: “In the words of Andratesha Fritzgerald: ‘The work of antiracism is active, not passive.’”
- Community building: Ngwa observes: “One thing that attracts participants to the program is the community that they build with fellow participants and the flexibility that the program affords. We are very conscious of how busy educators are and have designed a schedule that takes that into account, offering classes on weekends and over the summer to allow for flexibility.”
- Convenience: Ngwa points out that “The program can be completed in just three semesters. It is also designed for full-time professionals, as it is taught online and offered in a weekend format to accommodate individuals with busy schedules.”
Ngwa sums up: “This is a unique chance for you to help decrease the gap for those who are furthest from opportunity. Plan now to become the change agent your community needs to deliver quality education regardless of racial, cultural, socioeconomic, or linguistic status.”
Intrigued? Contact an enrollment advisor to learn more about the program and its admissions process. If you’re ready, you can start your admission application online today.
