Mirror Work: Developing White Preservice Teachers' Racial Literacy With Black Clinical Educators

• In Event: Forging Coalitions of Empowerment: Self-Studies Fostering Radical Literacies, Critical Consciousness, and Dialogic Friendships

Abstract

The purpose of this Self-Study in Teacher Education Practices is to explore the impact of a Black Clinical Educator Network. The network was instituted to develop an affinity community for Black English educators in the northeast and to serve as clinical educators in the development of white preservice teachers’ racial identity, by engaging with Black English educators on a racial literacy development project. This intentional collaboration was to create a mirror for preservice teachers to reflect, unpack, interrogate and explore their racial identity from multiple vantage points. The data from the racial literacy development projects will be analyzed and shared with the audience. Furthermore, some of the Black ELA clinical educators will share their stories about engaging in this project.

Authors

• Kisha M Porcher, University of Delaware

• Brittany Powell, University of Delaware

• Mariam Dukuray, Red Clay Consolidated School District

• Taria Pritchett, Brandywine School District

• Michelle Gamble, New Castle County Vocational Technical School District