Education Commons^™

Redesigning Field Experiences To Support Rural Schools: A Praxis Reflection, Vicki S. Sherbert

Educational Considerations

The on-going social and political climate, with polarizing stances on everything from issues of social justice to mandates for mask-wearing and vaccination, brings non-normative stressors into the lived experiences of students, families, and educators everywhere. These stressors are often magnified in rural communities and schools. Yet, in spite of these challenges, many schools in rural areas have embraced opportunities for creative collaborations which foster connections and celebrate the unique richness of their communities.

This Praxis Reflection describes one such collaboration between a teacher educator at a midwestern university and a rural junior high/senior high school 300 miles west of the …

Collaborative Autonomy: Exploring The Professional Freedom Of Three Science Teachers, Michael Ralph, Darian Robbins, Stephen Young, Laurence Woodruff

Educational Considerations

Education reform efforts must support and protect professional autonomy for classroom teachers. When policymakers attempt to make systemic change in ways that reduce the professional autonomy of educators, student learning suffers. Teachers need the freedom to identify their professional goals, seek resources and collaboration opportunities in pursuit of those goals, and act on feedback regarding their progress in meeting those goals. We present three stories from teachers who share a department engaged in collaborative autonomy. These accounts provide guidance for how professional autonomy can be defended by those pursuing systemic change.

Addressing Dilemmas Of Social Justice Mathematics Through Collaboration Of Students, Educators, And Researchers, Kari Kokka

Educational Considerations

In this paper, I provide a definition of Social Justice Mathematics. I explore three dilemmas that arise with SJM instruction and suggest ways in which collaboration among students, educators, and researchers may address these dilemmas.

Blurring The Boundaries: Reflecting On Pds Roles And Responsibilities Through Multiple Lenses, Lotta C. Larson, Amanda D. Lickteig, Vicki S. Sherbert, Deborah A. Nauerth

Educational Considerations

It is well documented that successful Professional Development School (PDS) initiatives are contingent on trusting relationships between the university and school districts.

Case Study In The Power Of Collaboration: Planning Process For The Kansas Educational Leadership Institute, Mary Devin, Debbie Mercer, Mike Mathes, Tom Trigg, Sharon Zoellner

Educational Considerations

Systematic statewide support for the recruitment, development, and retention of quality leaders in schools and school districts was not a new idea in Kansas in late 2010, but at best it was at an elusive concept. Diverse groups had considered it among components of a long-range commitment to move Kansas education quality from good to great, but no plan for creating such a system was in place.