The United States Justice Department recently struck a blow against bullying behavior. Officials there reversed a decade-old policy and asked to intervene in a harassment suit brought by a gay youth.
Annie Huynh is a graduate of Temple University with a master’s degree in elementary education. She teaches at the Folk Art – Cultural Treasures Charter School (FACTS) in Philadelphia, Pa., where her areas of focus include literacy, social studies and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). Her passion lies in equitable education for immigrant students. Additionally, she develops social studies curriculum, and is a member of Teachers Lead Philly and Teacher Action Group for the advancement of the teaching profession. In her spare time, Annie enjoys bike riding, Bikram yoga, and
Elizabeth is a former high school English teacher and a Ph.D. candidate in curriculum, teaching and teacher education at the University of Florida. She currently supervises pre-service teachers and teaches courses on practitioner inquiry and the history of education.
Tracking and ability grouping remain common practices in schools across the country despite research showing these practices contribute to segregated classes and opportunity gaps. In Walla Walla, Washington, a group of educators decided to try something different.
When educators take the time to build and sustain engagement with students’ caregivers, they illustrate social justice in action, showing students that their identities and living situations are valuable and worthy of understanding.