Enacting Justice After Affirmative Action in Secondary English Teacher Education: Promise and Possibilities Beyond DEI in Michigan

• In Event: (Preservice) Teaching for Justice

Abstract

In June 2023, the United States Supreme Court struck down affirmative action policies. However, several states had already prohibited affirmative action, including Michigan in 2006. Three interlinked studies within a Michigan secondary English teacher education program are presented. Through analysis of observations, interviews, and focus groups, we trace significant programmatic change during the ongoing COVID-19 emergency (2020-2023). Findings demonstrate that after centering justice in methods and fieldwork, preservice teachers are becoming increasingly aware of educational disparities and committed to social change on campuses that have far fewer Black, Latinx, and Native/Indigenous students than before affirmative action ended. The paper concludes with a clarion call for renewed commitment to combating effects of the post-affirmative action era within teacher education programs nationwide.

Authors

• Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, University of Michigan

• Naitnaphit Limlamai, Colorado State University

• Christopher Kingsland, University of Michigan

• Michelle Ratering, University of Michigan