Teachers Cultivating Democracy in Our Schools: Promising Practices and Grassroots Movements, Past, Present, and Future

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

From the mid-1980s-1990s, ideas around the need to reform schools to become proving grounds for democratic citizenship gained some traction. Reformers, such as Deborah Meier and her colleagues started scores of successful staff-governed, student- and family-centered public schools in major urban centers. They advocated for reforms that would lay the foundation for spreading reforms conducive to democratic practices throughout districts nationwide. Over the past two decades, however, top-down reforms have overwhelmed such initiatives, in large part by moving decision-making further from those most impacted--educators themselves. In this session, a panel comprised of practicing and former teachers and school leaders will share challenges they encounter to engaging in democratic practices in their respective schools/districts, as well as strategies they have employed to address these challenges. Panel presentations will be followed by questions and discussion.

Sub Unit

• Division K - Teaching and Teacher Education

Chairs

• Kira J. Baker-Doyle, Arcadia University

• Emily R. Gasoi, Artful Education

Presenters

• Norah Mallaney, New York City PS 29

• Jeanine King, Bronx Community Charter School

• Juli-Anne Benjamin

• Gamal Sherif

Discussant

• Deborah W. Meier