Tyrone Tanner

Tyrone Tanner, Ed.D is a professor in the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education and Executive Director of Prairie View A&M University’s Northwest Houston Center. As an academic scholar, his research focuses on removing opportunity gaps in P-12 schools that impact diverse learners.
To that end, he has authored or co-authored more than 30 peer reviewed articles/books and shared his research with more than 250,000 educators, parents, community members, and scholars.
Some of his publications and books include Parents Need Help Too:  A Guide for Parents of School-age Children; Culturally Responsive Educational Theories: A Practical Guide with Case Studies for Improving the Academic Performance of Diverse Learners; Enhancing the Cultural Competency of Prospective Leaders via a Study Abroad Experience; and Does Diversity Really Matter? The Interplay Between Students’ Race and their Teacher’s Level of Cultural Responsiveness.

Tanner’s passion for improving educational outcomes for underserved children has steered him to grassroots endeavors, which include serving on multiple boards and committees. One such board is the Hearne Education Foundation (HEF). As part of a special initiative approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to improve Hearne Independent School District scores, this small group of founding education experts served as board members and were key in moving the district’s rating from a score of F to a rating of B in one year, expunging the district from a state conservator.
On this same path, Tanner has facilitated countless professional development workshops, keynote addresses, and commencement presentations such as the Texas Education Agency (TEA) 2019 keynote speaker on turnaround school and community partnership initiatives. His research continues to garner national and international audiences, with Tanner having shared his research in more than 20 countries including South Africa, Austria, Canada, and Australia to name a few.

As a professor, his academic support extends to students interested in leadership, education, and closing opportunity gaps. His classes are research based and exciting with topics such as analyzing the music of 2-Pac and others through the lens of various theories. He has also chaired or served as a member of more than 30 dissertation committees, taught more than 25 graduate courses, and has been awarded multiple grants, including a recent $350,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to further his research on Developing Culturally Responsive STEM educators.

Dr. Tanner’s research and philosophy is firmly planted in the belief that all students can learn, and if provided a culturally responsive environment they can learn with exceptionality. As a professor, he is committed and dedicated to developing the tools necessary for educators, community stakeholders, and parents to create environments in which all children thrive.