Today we welcome Dr. David E. Kirkland, our opening keynote speaker for the first day of our conference- Virtual Day on Nov 3rd. Catch his talk at 9am!!
David E. Kirkland is a Professor of Urban Education and founder and CEO of the education equity organization forwardED. He is an activist and educator, cultural critic and author, and a leading national scholar and advocate for vulnerable students. While Dr. Kirkland’s work has always centered equity and culturally and linguistically responsive-sustaining education, his most recent work with forwardED has focused on supporting instruction responsive to the social, cultural, and emotional needs of linguistically and culturally plural students. Dr. Kirkland taught secondary school and served as a school administrator in Michigan and New York. He has also organized youth empowerment and youth mentoring programs in major U.S. cities and currently leads efforts to enhance education options for vulnerable youth throughout the U.S. Dr. Kirkland has received many awards for his research and educational advocacy work; a full list can be found here. Learn more about Dr. Kirkland by clicking on the following links:
“A Search Past Silence: The Literacy of Black Males”
"How a Dyslexic Boy Fell in Love with Words"
"Elements of Oppression"
"Transformation Needed to Integrate School"
"English Professor Directs NYU Center to Make Education More Equitable"
In this episode, learn about the personal experiences that led Dr. Kirkland into the field of education. Listen in as he discusses the difference between “being asked to the dance vs. being asked TO dance,” why it's important to distinguish between implementing linguistic justice "ON" our students vs "WITH" them, and how we can welcome home and youth cultures and languages into our learning space and think of our students "not as deficits, but as profits!"
