Dr. Mountain named Director of Education for The Hip Hop Museum in Bronx, New York

Dr. André Benito Mountain is the Director of Education for The Hip Hop Museum. He is the publisher of DEF-ED Magazine, and the host of the DEF-EDucation Podcast. He is a dynamic educator, researcher, and author whose work bridges Hip Hop, history, and pedagogy to create transformative learning experiences for students and educators. A dedicated advocate for culturally responsive education, Dr. Mountain currently serves as an educator in the Gwinnett County Public Schools and as an adjunct professor at the State University of New York (SUNY) Old Westbury.

With a career spanning classroom teaching, curriculum leadership, and higher education, Dr. Mountain’s expertise is rooted in a strong academic foundation. He holds a B.A. in History from Georgia Southern University, an M.A. in Elementary Education from Wesleyan College, a Specialist in Educational Leadership from Augusta University, and a Doctorate in Curriculum Studies from Georgia Southern University. Additionally, in 2013 he completed the Instructional Rounds certification program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, enhancing his ability to drive systemic improvements in teaching and learning.

In 2020, Dr. Mountain launched the Hip Hop Literacy Laboratory in a metro-Atlanta elementary school, pioneering an innovative approach to increase student engagement and infuse culturally responsive practices into classroom instruction. His work builds upon the groundbreaking scholarship of Dr. Bettina Love (Abolitionist Teaching), Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings (Culturally Relevant Pedagogy), and Dr. Chris Emdin (Reality Pedagogy), integrating Hip Hop as a means to deepen student learning and critical consciousness.

Dr. Mountain has served as a K-12 district curriculum coordinator for Social Studies, shaping instructional practices to foster equity and engagement across a network of 57 schools. His research and writings explore the intersections of Hip Hop, education, and social justice. His article, “Woodstock to Hip-Hop: Convergent Lifeline and the Pedagogy of Personal Quest,” delves into the transformative power of music and personal narrative in education, highlighting how cultural movements shape identity and critical thinking. He has written multiple books, including Pawn Takes Rook, Virtually Lost, and The Mountain Principles, and has developed groundbreaking instructional resources such as The Hip Hop Lit Lab with Hip Hop legend Masta Ace and Writers’ Studio Workbook with visual artist Justin Bua.

Dr. Mountain is passionate about expanding the reach of The Hip Hop Museum into schools, school districts, colleges, and educational conferences, ensuring that Hip Hop’s cultural legacy continues to inform and inspire new generations of educators and students.

“This role is both an honor and a full-circle moment for me, as my journey began in the classrooms of Swainsboro Primary and Swainsboro Elementary before I relocated to Augusta to attend A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering High School,” stated Dr. Mountain. “My hope is that my journey might inspire others in Swainsboro to pursue their own dreams and embrace their purpose. More information about my work can be found at the museum’s team page [THHM].”