Hiewet Senghor is the Founder and CEO of the Black Teacher Collaborative (BTC), a nonprofit organization that believes in the genius and beauty of Black children and the unique role of Black teachers in cultivating those gifts. BTC seeks to redefine the training and development of Black educators to fully maximize the unique benefits that emerge from SRILE classrooms — educational environments where both teachers and students share a racial identity, specifically where more than 65% of teachers share the same racial background as 85% or more of their students. Hiewet previously helped advance the political and social conditions of Black people through her work in civil rights and education reform organizations including the NAACP, the Children's Defense Fund, and Teach For America. Hiewet received a bachelor's degree from Hampton University, and she completed graduate-level work in public administration at the University of Georgia. Hiewet grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, where she continues to reside.