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Becoming a Social Justice Educator

A Guide With Practice

By: Zachary Scott Robbins, Dominique Smith, Sarah Ortega, Oscar Corrigan, Bryan Dale

Want to be more culturally competent? Ready to turn social justice aspirations into classroom routines that help every student feel confident, capable, and motivated? Let this book guide you in building more inclusive cultures—and engaging every student.

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Product Details

Grade Level: PreK-12
ISBN: 9781071921203
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2023
Page Count: 168
Publication date: June 22, 2023

Price: $34.95

Description

The curiosity-stirring, can-do handbook for building inclusive cultures

With one click we can make our camera lens switch from portrait to landscape, so why can’t we find a simple way to broaden our perspectives on equity? Because human beings are wildly complex, for one thing. But this potent guide simplifies, providing concrete techniques for becoming expansive educators capable of engaging every student. Chapter assets include:

Compelling research to support why it’s urgent we embrace foundational fairness—and why even subtle words can have massive effects on students’ sense of potential
Questions and prompts that help you build inclusive thinking into your expectations of students, your feedback, grading, and approaches to discipline
Activities, discussion frames, and debate structures that support students’ exploration of complex topics
Ideas for engaging staff, leadership, family, and the community in ways that reveal strength

Social justice work is not “other;” it’s not extra. It’s student agency work. It’s what keeps so many of us educators up at night, worried about why some of our learners aren’t engaged. With this book, they will be engaged, because they will know you believe in their abilities, and now know how to show that every day.

Author(s)

Zachary Scott Robbins

Dr. Zachary Scott Robbins is the Superintendent of the Marysville School District in Washington State. He has “turned around” schools in Boston and Las Vegas and is honored to be the 2022 Nevada High School Principal of the Year. Dr. Robbins was the 2021 City of Las Vegas African-American Trailblazer in Education Award Recipient, and in 2021 he was the President-Elect of the Secondary School Principals Association of Nevada.

Dr. Robbins was educated at Howard University in Washington, DC, and he earned his Ph.D. in Education Administration at the Boston College Lynch School of Education. You can find Dr. Robbins on Twitter at DrZacRobbins.

Dominique Smith

Dominique Smith, Ed.D. is Chief of Educational Services and Teacher Support at Health Sciences High and Middle College in San Diego, California. Smith is passionate about creating school environments that honor and empower students. His research and instruction focuses on restorative practices, classroom management, growth mindset, and the culture of achievement. Dominique also provides professional learning to K-12 teachers in small and large groups that address classroom and school climate and organization. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University with an emphasis on equity as well as a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California. Dominique also holds credentials from San Diego State University in administrative services, child welfare, PPS, and attendance. Smith has been recognized with the National School Safety Award from the School Safety Advocacy Council. In 2018, he delivered a TED Talk on building relationships between students and teachers.

Sarah Ortega

Sarah Ortega is a coordinator for instruction and supports for English Language learners at Health Sciences High & Middle College and served as a classroom educator for 19 years. She was recognized as the 2023 Chula Vista Elementary School District Teacher of the Year and her teaching videos have been featured in professional development training and educator magazines. She is also a professional learning consultant and works with schools and districts to design and implement learning solutions that support the emotional, behavioral, and instructional needs of students.

Oscar Corrigan

Oscar Corrigan, Ed.D. is an assistant principal and director of the English Language Learner program at Health Sciences High and Middle College (HSHMC) in San Diego, California. He has 15 years of experience in education, teaching middle school social studies and secondary history, lecturing at San Diego State University, supervising teacher candidates, and implementing restorative practices. Oscar earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University. With his classroom experience and research, Oscar strives to implement instructional practices that best promote an equitable learning environment for students from diverse backgrounds. Oscar is co-author of Kids Come in All Languages and Becoming a Social Justice Educator.

Bryan Dale

Bryan Dale is currently the special education program director at Health Sciences High and Middle College (HSHMC) in San Diego, California. In addition, he has experience as an education specialist, an English teacher, and supervising teacher candidates. He earned his master’s degree in Special Education from California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and is a Leading Edge Certified teacher in online and blended learning. With his classroom experience and as a doctoral candidate at SDSU, Bryan strives to implement instructional practices that best promote an equitable learning environment for students from diverse backgrounds.

Reviews

Deeply reflective and an absolutely essential tool for educators at all levels! This brilliant and powerfully transformative guide takes us along a journey of learning that includes a deep dive into understanding how our very own story and experiences shape our beliefs and behaviors toward social justice in education.

Gloria E. Ciriza, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent, San Diego County Office of Education

The authors provide the perfect balance – a guide to self-reflection and a call to action. This is the right guide for the right time. The journey to becoming a social justice educator starts now!

Dr. Peter Dallas Finch
Superintendent, West Valley School District

Becoming a Social Justice Educator is a powerful read for anyone hoping to create learning spaces in which all students feel valued and respected. The reflection questions and activities built into each chapter, lead the reader on a powerful journey of vulnerability and greater self-awareness. If schools are to be a safe, inclusive space for all students to excel and be successful, we must better understand the impact our experiences have on the system in which we work.

Amy DeLaRosa
Systems Alignment Specialist, Kansas MTSS and Alignment

Other Titles in: Social Justice | Teaching Strategies for Diverse Students | Cultural Competence

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Related Resources

Companion Website [Site]
Know Yourself: equity work begins with self-knowledge [Lessons and strategies]
The Dominant Culture of Schools and the Ideal of Discourse and Dissent [Lessons and strategies]