Panels and Panelists
Friday Morning Panel
Going Places: The Value of Place-based Education as a Progressive Education Practice
Representatives from Detroit, South Texas and NDSG reflect on NDSG's recent place-based experiences.
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Kim SherobbiKimberley Sherobbi operates from the principle that “everyone is a teacher and everyone is a learner”. She is a retired physical education teacher. She taught in the Detroit Public Schools for 28 years. She now teaches physical education at the Boggs School. A self-described community practitioner and student of life, her work in community service began more than 20 years ago.
Kim’s concern for the well being of others through social justice efforts and passion for thriving communities has led her to work closely with a number of organizations such as the James and Grace Lee Boggs Center, Healing Support Network and Birwood Block Club Association. She is the former facility manager for the East Michigan Environmental Action Council (EMEAC). Kim is currently co-chair for Women Creating Caring Communities and is the founder of Birwood House, Inc. whose mission is to help nurture community leaders who will care for the earth and the people on it. |
David WassermanDavid has taught multi-age, multiple subject middle school in Madison, Wisconsin for the past 15 years. He was a founding member of Badger Rock Middle School- a place-based, project-based public charter school in Madison, and has a Master of Education degree from Portland State University.
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Saturday Morning Panel:
Race, Justice and Community in Education
Representatives from around the country speak about race, justice and community in education.
Ayla GavinsAt 18 Ayla Gavins left the small town life of a Pennsylvania suburb and moved to Boston to attend Boston University’s School of Education. Upon graduation she began six years of teaching in two affluent suburbs of Boston. Her teaching career continued in Boston Public Schools where she taught ages 7-14 for 6 years at Mission Hill School.
Under the guidance of Deborah Meier she received her school administrative license from the Principal Residency Network. She became principal of Mission Hill, a progressive, inclusive and democratic school, in 2006. She has connected with a global audience of educators through presentations, school visitations, conference participation, online presence and writing. Brian FosterBrian Foster is a Youth organizer based in Boston, a member of the YOUNG alliance. He is currently attending UMass-Boston for Computer Science. He graduated from Boston Public Schools Excel HS last year, where he got involved with organizing, particularly during the student walkouts protesting budget cuts. During the summer, he worked as youth coordinator for the successful Save our Public Schools campaign that fought charter expansion.
Antonio CosmeAntonio Rafael is a Xicano Boricua educator, organizer, farmer, artist and coop worker from #SWDetroit. He co-founded #RaizUp collective hiphop for decolonial edutainment and supporting movement. More than just resisting the abuse of land, water and people, Antonio started #SWGrows urban farm and ecological design cooperative to expand art, agriculture and green development in his neighborhood.
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Shea Howell
Asia Bernatchy
Michelle CavazosMichelle Antonieta Arevalo-Cavazos was born in Mexico in the city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. She came to the United States at a very young age and has dual citizenship. Her first language is Spanish. She had the chance to learn English during her elementary school years. Her education was held in an early exit bilingual program where, as soon as she learned English, she was pulled out into an all English classroom. Her vision is to inspire others to grow as potential leaders and advocate for bilingual education, justice, and human rights. She is an undergraduate senior at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley and a proud first generation college student. She has had the privilege of serving her community through organization inspired events and learning through conferences and workshops. She is also the president of the UTRGV Bilingual Education Student Organization and serves as the BESO representative for the Texas Association for Bilingual Education. She wants to teach in the classroom to promote the powerful use of funds of knowledge in order to teach content while her students preserve their mother tongue as they learn a second language. She plans to work on her graduate degree in order to serve as an administrator and help shape the education system to most benefit all of our students in our country. In conclusion, she leaves her statement with this quote, "For many bilingual households, language is the bridge to the essence of who we are and to the heart of our heritage."
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