Announcing The Teacher Project

At the Institute for Educational and Social Justice, we know that stories matter.

Stories told honestly and effectively have the potential to change lives, strengthen communities and, ultimately, transform society.

But we know (and research confirms) that when it comes to telling teachers’ life stories, a void exists.

And because of this void, we don’t know how teachers construct meaning or fully understand how teachers’ core beliefs shape their work with students and families.

In November, we will be working to fill that silence by hosting The Teacher Project, a two-day retreat in Southern California dedicated to the exploration of teachers’ core beliefs and how those beliefs shape the work they do in classrooms, schools and communities.

Our hope is that the stories we hear will not only be personal and unique, but also universal in some ways.

We believe that in current discussions of equity and justice in educational reform, the voices of teachers must be heard and recognized. To ignore teachers’ voices is to silence and de-legitimize not only the teachers’ lives and experiences, but also the lives of the students they serve.

We hope the stories we hear and share remind us all why we entered the teaching or other helping professions, and why, no matter where our professions might take us, teaching and helping others must remain central to our lives and work.

Above all else, we hope the stories we uncover will be real and filled with hope. And it is this hope – and the possibility for change it carries with it -- that provides the foundation for the work we all are doing during undeniably challenging times.

Want to learn more about The Teacher Project or hope to see a similar retreat held in your area? Email us at instituteforedandsocialjustice@gmail.com and include The Teacher Project in your subject line.

Together, we can build a sense of hope and understanding through the power of story.