Alhassan Susso

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New York State's 2019 Teacher of the Year


Alhassan has been the “Most Admired and Inspirational Teacher” in his school for the last three years.
Clients – Speaking Engagements

Alhassan Susso is a world-renowned educator, author and speaker who has devoted his career to transforming the lives of young people facing difficulties. Born in The Gambia, Alhassan migrated to America at age 16.

He graduated with honors in Political Science and History from the University of Vermont and he received his Master of Arts in Teaching from Bard College in New York. He currently teaches Government, Economics and Personal Development at the International Community High School in the South Bronx in New York City.

He is the author of a motivational memoir, The Light of Darkness: The Story of the Griots' Son, which traces his journey to America as a nearly blind teenager and his trials and triumphs becoming American, while maintaining his deep African roots.

Alhassan is the Founder and Director of the Inspiring Teens’ Future program at the International Community High School. This program has helped raise his school’s graduation rate from 31% to 84.9 in 5 years. Through this program, Alhassan has worked with and transformed the lives of over 1000 youths. He is certified in therapeutic crisis intervention in schools and he trains and speaks on a variety of topics including: Developing the Right Mindset and Attitude for Success, Turning Adversity into Opportunity, and Relationship-Based Approaches to Teaching.

He has spoken at numerous venues and events including The United Nations, Google for Education, Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai, and the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

Alhassan is the 2019 New York State Teacher of the Year. He is also the 2019 New York State History Teacher of the Year and the 2020 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence. He was also named in 2017 as one of "The Top 50 Outstanding Educators in the World" by the Varkey Foundation's Global Teacher Prize. He is the recipient of the prestigious Daylight Africa Award and the United Federation of Teachers Audrey Chasen Award. He was awarded the 2019 Cultural Innovator Award by Long Island University and is a two-time recipient of the Social-Emotional Learning Innovation Award for Teachers by Education First through the Rockefeller Foundation.