Belonging and Wellness at the Center: Reimagining Schooling in Two Maryland School Districts

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 11:45 am - Gold 4
  In Roundtable Session: From Protection to Possibility: Policy, Wellness, and the Making of Safe Spaces in Education

Abstract

This paper shares the results of a qualitative case study in two school districts where conventional public schools are being transformed into community schools. Community schools are comprehensive neighborhood centers built on partnerships that educate, engage, activate and serve students, their families, and other members of the community for democratic citizenship and serve as a catalyst for community change (Maier, Oakes, & Daniels, 2017). Utilizing grounded methods (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) and interpretive policy analysis (Yanow, 2000) to understand how this initiative is viewed on the ground by families, students, and school staff, this study shares the complexities and possibilities of a justice-centered way of schooling focused on wellbeing, student holistic development, community partnership, family engagement and empowerment.

Authors

• Marina Lambrinou, Loyola University Maryland

• Elizabeth Holliday Morgan, Morgan State University

• Jessica Shiller, Towson University