Chantei Alves

2022 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Finalist

Chantei Alves is an early childhood special education teacher in Boston Public Schools. She is passionate about equitable, engaging and inclusive education, authentic family involvement in schools and classrooms, and supporting other educators to reach all students academically, socially and emotionally. Her teaching includes elements of social justice and culturally responsive pedagogy and she has advocated for many families and students at the local and state level. She has also participated in several professional development opportunities, including the Boston Public Schools Women Educators of Color (WEOC) Executive Coaching Leadership Program and Teach Plus Massachusetts Education Policy Fellowship.

Chantei is the recipient of the 2020 American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts Distinguished Service Award, 2021 Boston Teachers Union Committee Member of the Year and a finalist for the 2022 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. She is the co-chair of the Boston Teachers Union Inclusion Done Right Committee, a Boston Teachers Union Building Representative for her school and a Boston Public Schools Recruitment Fellow. Beyond the classroom, she serves as a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) - Boston chapter and is a founding board member of Boston Network for Black Student Achievement (BNBSA) and The Teachers' Lounge (TTL).

Chantei holds a Bachelors of Science in Biology with a Chemistry minor from Atlantic Union College, a Masters in Education from Northeastern University in Higher Education Administration and a Masters of Education in Moderate Disabilities from Lesley University. She is also a Doctor of Law and Policy student at Northeastern University.