Dr. Andre Benito Mountain is an award-winning educator, author, and national thought leader in culturally responsive pedagogy and Hip Hop education. With over two decades of experience in public education, he currently serves as the Director of Education at The Hip Hop Museum and as an adjunct professor in the Department of Education at SUNY Old Westbury.
Dr. Mountain is the visionary behind the nation’s first Hip Hop Literacy Laboratory for elementary students and the founder of DEF-EDucation, a platform that equips educators with culturally affirming resources rooted in equity, critical thinking, and creativity. His published works include The Hip Hop Lit Lab (with Masta Ace) and Writers’ Studio (featuring visual art by Justin Bua).
Dr. Mountain’s approach blends multicultural literature, Hip Hop culture, and social-emotional learning to empower students and educators alike. He has presented at national conferences including the Model Schools Conference, and his insights have been featured in Education Week and Teacher Magazine.