Learning From Our History: The Role of the New York Collective of Radical Educators

• In Event: Organizing Teacher Leaders for Change

Abstract

Educator activists can play an important role in transforming not only what happens inside classrooms but also larger educational systems. While recent focus has been on social justice caucuses in teacher unions, there is also a network of radical educator collectives like the New York Collective of Radical Educators (NYCoRE) that organize outside of union spaces. In this paper, we (the current NYCoRE core) analyze the historical impact of NYCoRE to theorize about the role of educator collectives in educational justice movements. Using oral history interviews with founding members of NYCoRE, we found that NYCoRE has provided a political home for progressive educators, critical professional development, and prepared educators to contribute to educational justice movements. National implications are discussed.

Authors

• Jennifer Queenan, Graduate Center - CUNY

• Natalia Ortiz, New York Collective of Radical Educators

• Rosie Frascella, NYC Department of Education

• Pamela Segura

• Ashia Troiano, At the Table

• Elizabeth Velazquez