On her first day as an Education Anew Fellow with Teaching for Change, Dr. Cierra Kaler-Jones joined a high school student field trip on gentrification in D.C. and wrote a story about it. This was two years ago. She has written dozens of stories since, amplifying the work of social justice teachers throughout the D.C. metro area.
Kaler-Jones’ two-year fellowship was sponsored by the Communities for Just Schools Fund (CJSF), placing her half-time with Teaching for Change. She made profound contributions to many aspects of our work. In addition to documenting teachers’ classroom stories, Kaler-Jones:
co-designed and co-led a workshop on the politics of hair that she piloted at the National Museum of African American History and Culture
assisted with the DCAESJ middle and high school people’s history curriculum working group
and much more.
Meanwhile, Kaler-Jones finished and defended her doctoral dissertation on how Black girls use arts-based practices (e.g., movement, music, hair) as mechanisms for identity construction and resistance through the co-creation of a healing-centered out-of-school space. She became Dr. Kaler-Jones this spring.
Cierra Kaler-Jones facilitates a Teaching for Change workshop at the DCPS Summer Leadership Institute in July, 2019.
While her two-year Education Anew Fellowship has ended, we look forward to collaborating with Kaler-Jones in her new role as the CJSF Director of Storytelling. We are also excited about her ongoing work with the Zinn Education Project, particularly in developing a Teaching for Black Lives podcast with Jesse Hagopian.
Thank You Dr. Cierra Kaler-Jones
Kaler-Jones’ two-year fellowship was sponsored by the Communities for Just Schools Fund (CJSF), placing her half-time with Teaching for Change. She made profound contributions to many aspects of our work. In addition to documenting teachers’ classroom stories, Kaler-Jones:
Meanwhile, Kaler-Jones finished and defended her doctoral dissertation on how Black girls use arts-based practices (e.g., movement, music, hair) as mechanisms for identity construction and resistance through the co-creation of a healing-centered out-of-school space. She became Dr. Kaler-Jones this spring.
While her two-year Education Anew Fellowship has ended, we look forward to collaborating with Kaler-Jones in her new role as the CJSF Director of Storytelling. We are also excited about her ongoing work with the Zinn Education Project, particularly in developing a Teaching for Black Lives podcast with Jesse Hagopian.
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Posted: May 13, 2021