34.054 - Active Solidarity Beyond Graduation: Preparing and Supporting Teachers Who Disrupt the System

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

Justice-oriented teacher education programs prepare teachers to disrupt the myriad systems that oppress K-12 students and their communities. Program graduates who enact the practices they learn in these programs are often met with resistance. Justice-oriented teachers experience racially hostile climates (Kohli, 2016), they risk isolation (Picower, 2009), and they may even lose their jobs (Meyerson, 2016).This session explores ways teacher educators can prepare teachers to respond to the resistance they will likely face when taking radical action against oppressive systems in their school communities. Further, we discuss teacher educators’ responsibilities for their program graduates experiencing opposition. We will present post-graduation strategies for teachers and teacher educators and share examples of how these strategies have been implemented across multiple sites.

Sub Unit

• Division K - Teaching and Teacher Education

Chair

• Tanya Maloney, Montclair State University

Presenters

• Bree Picower, Montclair State University

• Sarah Barrett, York University

• Tasneem Munir, Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute

• Sameena Eidoo, University of Toronto

• Marylin N Zuniga, Sadie Nash Leadership Project

Discussant

• Tanya Maloney, Montclair State University