Armaad Jamaal Eubanks was born in 1984 in Madison, Wisconsin. Growing up on the south side of Madison, Jamaal was part of a close-knit community that shaped much of his early life. He played football with the Southside Raiders and spent many afternoons at the South Madison Neighborhood Center, now known as the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County. Among his fondest memories was the lounge called Purlies, a local gem that generously allowed them to host fundraisers and to that sense of unity in the neighborhood.
Jamaal’s natural athletic talent made him a standout on the varsity basketball team at West High School. Though he was a standout on the court, his academic record did not fully reflect his intelligence; “My grades didn’t reflect how smart I was because I didn’t allow my grades to show how smart I was.”
After high school, Jamaal attended Alabama State University for two years before ultimately, in 2008, graduating from Huntingdon College with a degree in history. It was a challenging journey, but Jamaal’s commitment helped him achieve his undergraduate goal.
Blessed with two daughters—one born before his college graduation and the other after—Jamaal returned to Madison and began working as a paraprofessional with the Madison School District. Teaching was always his dream, but earning a teaching certificate was an uphill climb. Despite his past academic struggles, Jamaal wrote a heartfelt letter pleading his case and expressing his passion. This earned him conditional acceptance into graduate school, with the requirement to earn a 3.0 GPA in his first semester to be fully admitted.
Self-doubt haunted Jamaal’s journey to becoming a history teacher, prompting him to shift focus to special education, a field with numerous opportunities. He passed important Praxis tests and received an emergency license to teach. Yet, when a new test requirement arose—one that triggered his test-taking anxiety—his path shifted again.
Jamaal found a role in higher education and continued his studies. His perseverance paid off with two master’s degrees: Special Education in 2016 and Educational Leadership in 2018. In 2022, he began a doctoral program focused on research that included the “Ignite From A Spark Mentoring Program,” exploring influence, academic success, and student self-efficacy. His research led to the creation of a mentoring curriculum aimed at addressing why many African American males struggle academically. The program included interventions on identity, belonging, maturation, and personal development, creating a welcoming learning environment.
On April 24th, Jamaal successfully defended his research and earned his EdD from Edgewood University. His dedication extended beyond academia; he self-published a book titled “The Determination To Succeed” and founded an educational consulting business, “Eubanks Solutions.” His mission is to have schools adopt his mentoring programs to help students identify their learning and support styles, fostering academic growth.
Jamaal is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of his mother Zolonda Eubanks, grandmother, children, Dr. Rainey Briggs, his wife Breeana, friends, and family who stood by him through difficult times. He also credits Percy Brown Jr. and Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu for their educational inspiration.
You can learn more about Jamaal’s mentoring program and “Eubanks Learner Language” at (https://www.eubankssolutions.com).
