Lately, social media has been getting a bad rap: Some say it’s harmful to young people and the government is considering a ban. But in the hands of creative educators, TikTok can be a powerful tool, spreading knowledge to anyone with a cellphone.

There are educators all over social media who are finding ways to uplift spirits, build community, and teach their viewers tools that help them boost achievement inside of the classroom.

Some use their platforms to teach overlooked truth, or give much-needed lessons on historical Black figures or use methods that may not show up in school district-approved lesson plans. And they are open to anyone who’s curious and wants to learn.

Here are 4 educators to check out on Tik Tok:

Ernest Crim III

Ernest Crim III is an educator everyone should know. The Chicago native has garnered 258,000 followers on Instagram, and over 400,000 followers on Tik Tok.

Creating a perfect blend of pop-culture references, American history, and an intense love of Black culture, the Emmy-nominated former public school teacher went from the classroom to teaching Black history and anti-racism lessons to millions across the world.

Crim educates folks through entertaining segments like ‘Crim’s Black History Field Trips,’ or highlighting overlooked Black people through his ‘G’s of Black History,” lessons.

Garrison Hayes

Stumbling on Garrison Hayes’ TikTok is like finding a source with just the right blend of of history, race, and politics you didn’t know you were looking for. A history buff, Hayes uses hidden figures and events of the past to help illustrate the future.

Case in point: Hayes introduces his followers to folks like “pathetic sellout” Isaiah Montgomery, a well-read slave who founded an all-Black town in Mississippi, yet joined with white politicians to impose a literacy test on Black voters — most of whom couldn’t read.

Hayes also gives critical breakdowns of monumental Supreme Court decisions that impact education, like the Students for Fair Admissions case that banned colleges and universities from considering race in admissions.

Mychal the Librarian

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic 90% of public libraries shut down. Studies show the number of librarians has dropped by roughly 20 percent since 2004, and book bans are no longer a rarity.

Mychal Threets, also known as Mychal The Librarian, is a oneman army working to undo those book bans, bring libraries back into the limelight and make libraries cool again.

With his sky-high Afro, tattooed biceps, ever-present smile and thumbs-up joy, Threets’ warm demeanor is deceptive: he is a fierce library and literacy advocate fighting for inclusion of authors of color and LGBTQ+ writers. In between, he takes his 780,000 followers on tours of some of the coolest stacks out there (“The Kansas City library has a movie theater IN. THE. LIBRARY!! YES!”) but also he tackles heavy subjects like grief and racism, with a calm energy seemingly channeled from Mister Rogers himself.

Alexia the dancerteacher

Music. Dancing. Learning. Alexia Pendleton, a.k.a. the dancerteacher, uses that threepiece combination to crack the code for teaching kindergartners, giving them an immersive experience that makes education fun.

Watching her TikTok feed is like looking into a portal of the coolest kindergarten class ever.

With seemingly boundless energy, masks and silly hats, Pendleton isn’t afraid to act silly, and encourages her students to do the same with dances like the“Turkey Turnup,” for Thanksgiving. But her energy has a purpose, and she gives tips to fellow teachers on engaging students, and incorporates music and movement in every lesson.

The goal: Boosting kids’ confidence, improving literacy through movement, and building a community where kids are eager to learn.

Pendleton also is using her social media presence to break down the barriers that disproportionately keep students of color from accessing arts education (one of her activities: “Go DJ, That’s My DJ”).

Through her Linktree, other educators around the world can access her lesson plans.

This story first appeared in Word in Black.