Chair, Education Commission of the Black Liberty Advancement Coalition

Wayne Banks began his career as a Teach for America corps member teaching high school chemistry and physics in the Chicago public schools, where he led more than 400 students to make four years of growth each year. After serving as assistant principal of STEM education and programming at a Chicago vocational high school, Banks realized that his students lacked sufficient command of math to excel in the sciences. For four years, he has taught mathematics to middle school students at TEAM KIPP Academy in New Jersey, where he is currently principal-in-residence, mentor teacher and professional development leader. He is also a curriculum writer for Cadence Learning and is chair of the Education Commission of the Black Liberty Advancement Coalition. Banks has a B.A. from Washington University, where he studied biochemistry and molecular biology, and a M.A. from Columbia University.