ASCD Faculty Bio

Gabriel Benn

Gabriel “Asheru” Benn is a veteran educator, pioneer of the hip-hop education movement, and social entrepreneur with 20 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in Washington, D.C.’s public, private, and charter schools. Benn’s successful dual career path in education and hip-hop support his innovative approach to professional learning. Benn has extensive experience as an instructional coach, consultant, and speaker, working with teachers in urban districts across the country and presenting at education conferences. He provides training and curriculum development supports in the areas of special education instruction, differentiated instruction, culturally responsive teaching, and arts and technology integration.

Benn holds a master’s degree in education from National Louis University and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Virginia. He also holds an Executive Certificate in Arts & Culture Strategy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Benn was a recipient of the prestigious Peabody Award for Journalism in 2006, and has performed, worked, and collaborated with youth organizations and artists in more than 24 countries. An international, award-winning hip-hop artist, he was appointed as a U.S. State Department Global Hip Hop Cultural Ambassador in 2014.

Benn is published in Educational Leadership and is scheduled to release his first book on urban education practice with ASCD in 2021.