The Role of Political Education in the Formation of Teachers as Community Organizers: Lessons From a Grassroots Activist Organization

• In Event: 41.045 - Educator Activism to Challenge Inequality and Construct Just Schools

Abstract

Based on a three-year qualitative case study of political education projects within the Latino Educators for Justice (LEJ), a teacher-led grassroots activist organization, this article explores the formation of grassroots political education and how it mediated the development of teachers as community organizers. Through a documentary and narrative account, this study argues that the mediation of political education must be understood relationally, and that “teacher as community organizer” is an important and emergent paradigm in social justice teacher education. Implications for social justice teacher education and research on the development and sustainability of social justice educators are suggested.

Authors

• Miguel Zavala, Chapman University

• Nick Henning, California State University - Fullerton