teacher, researcher, life-long learner
Change is local. Join me on November 14, 2015, for the annual neighborhood conference hosted by the St. Louis Association of Community Organizations. You can still register at http://www.slaco-mo.org/conference.html. Our panel at 11 am discusses how to “Adopt Your Neighborhood School and Vice Versa!” Other panels address local government, lessons learned from Ferguson, and youth engagement. See you there!
On November 20-21, 2014, at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Dr. Kim Song, colleagues, and I will host “Bridges to Dual Language Learning.” English language and bilingual teachers from across the state will have opportunities to visit The Spanish School (www.sllis.org) and join a series of workshops:
Immigrant Family Lives and Schools’ Responsibilities: From Federal to Local Policies
JOIN US! For more information, please email coppersmiths @ umsl.edu.
In June 2015, colleagues and I joined together at the annual Cambio de Colores conference. New this year: an entire ‘track’ of presentations on dual language and English Learners (EL) education. I was especially excited to be part of a panel discussing the development and challenges of dual language programs in Kansas City and Carthage, Missouri and community bilingual outreach at libraries in Springfield. There is great work happening – and great needs – across the state. Join us to discuss the “cambiodecolores.org” – Change of Colors – in Missouri and the Midwest.
In early April, thousands of researchers and educators will attend the annual meetings of the American Educational Research Association. This year, colleagues and I will reflect on “participatory research” with children (Saturday, April 5, 10:35 am!). While so much research is focused on children, too many educational studies are divorced from working with youth to understand their everyday perspectives and experiences. Come think with us, as we discuss the successes we’ve had and ethical challenges we’ve faced with integrating youth perspectives and energy into research. I’m also excited to be working with Jin Sook Lee (co-chair) and Melinda Martin-Beltran (discussant) to analyze language immersion schooling and its efforts to develop bilingualism, from Missouri to California, on Saturday, April 5, at 2:45 pm. See you in Philly!
A core implication of my research centers on reconsidering how families and parents are involved in their children’s education. On November 12, 2013, I gave a keynote address about these topics at the first Hook Center Performance Excellence Symposium, Framing Parents as Stakeholders: Informing, Involving, Investing. In this address, I spoke about the “roots” and complex goals of parent engagement programs, and encouraged school leaders to consider what they want to affect as they inform, involve, and invest in families.