Abolitionist Teacher Education: Anti-racist Praxis, Critical Perspectives, and Humanizing Pedagogies

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

This panel examines how we might “burn it down and rebuild” teacher preparation instead of tinkering around the edges to “fix” an inherently inequitable and racist system. It will challenge teacher educators and scholars to examine the influence of beliefs and values, identity and positionality, on the design and implementation of teacher education programs to make schools more liberatory spaces for teaching and learning. We question how reimagined teacher education programs move beyond “feel good multiculturalism” to center anti-racist praxis in key dimensions of teacher preparation: recruitment and support for teachers of color; centering the research and perspectives of scholars of color; culturally and linguistically responsive and sustaining curriculum and pedagogies; clinical practice partnerships; mentor teacher development; and faculty professional learning.

Sub Unit

• AERA Presidential Session

Chairs

• Daniel Soodjinda, California State University Stanislaus

• Annamarie Mahealani Francois, University of California - Los Angeles

Participants

• Bree Picower, Montclair State University

• Tanya Maloney, Montclair State University

• Farima Pour-Khorshid, University of San Francisco

• Melanie M. Acosta, Florida Atlantic University

• Betina Hsieh, California State University - Long Beach

Discussant

• Annamarie Mahealani Francois, University of California - Los Angeles