Full Description
A Soul-Centered Approach to Educating Teachers has been created by A Black Education Network (ABEN), a national organization whose mission is to reverse the backward slide of Black students by utilizing culturally informed research, technology, and visionary community networking within the African Diaspora to facilitate academic and cultural excellence wherever scholars are. This interactive book presents portraits, narratives, and essays to illustrate the impact of ABEN on Black educators and those they serve.
Traditional teacher education, curriculum, and instruction is largely disconnected from the lived experiences of diverse students and their communities. Current debates around Critical Race Theory and its application to curriculum call into question culturally responsive practices while others are striving for ways to support equitable practices in the classroom. Questions about these practices include, What does teacher and learning look like when grounded in community voice and practice? How can we better integrate the history, context, experience, and voice of the communities being served? How can teacher education apply authentic problem solving to address the concerns of a community?
This inspirational and educational tale answers these questions for the myriad teachers, parents, administrators, school districts, community organizations, and community members who seek a better understanding of how to foster, access, and learn from spaces of Black excellence for Black children. Soul-Centered is essential reading for both scholars involved in a variety of disciplines in Education, and for community leaders interested in seeing how improved education practices can hugely benefit their constituents.
Contents
Foreword: "Ubuntu! Who We Are and Why"
Joyce King
Founder's Introduction: Debra Watkins
Editors' Introduction: Rona Frederick and Kmt Shockley
Part I: ABEN - The Foundation
Chapter 1: The Making of the Vision
Rona Frederick
Chapter 2: ABEN - Reimagining Black Education
RonaFrederick
Part II: Soul-Centered Programming
Chapter 3: The Cultural Imperative Initiative
Anthony Browder
Chapter 4: A Youth Perspective on ABEN: A Greene Scholar's Experience
Ayinde Olokotin
Chapter 5: Two Minds and One Vision: Reflections from Mama Rosaline Preudhomme the Keeper of Wisdom
Rona Frederick
Chapter 6: The Power of the ABEN Summer Institutes: The Village Method
Rona Frederick
Chapter 7: From National to International Reach: The Sankofa Homeschool Collective
Monica Z.Utsey-Okpoti
Part III: Personal Narratives of Soul-Centered Healing
Chapter 8: Leading outside of the White Gaze: Debra Watkins, Founder of ABEN
Rona Frederick
Chapter 9: ABEN: A Lighthouse
Akosua Lesesne
Chapter 10: Full Circle: A Tribute to Debra Watkins and ABEN
Bobbie Brooks
Afterword: What Traditional Teacher Education can Learn From A Black Education Network
Marvin Lynn
About the Contributors
Index
NOTE: Table of contents subject to change up until publication date.
