HEI staff members share what we’re reading this month. We welcome your recommendations for next month!
Patricia Steele, PhD: Educated by Tara Westover
Key Takeaway: Yes, I’m two years behind everyone reading this incredible memoir. I’m captivated by the reality that educational opportunity can afford transformational change, for individuals and for generations. A reminder for why we do the things we do.
Tashera Bolds, PhD: “Culturally Responsive Evaluation: Theory, Practice, and Future Implications”
This article was published by the Center for Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment (CREA) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Key Takeaway: Cultural considerations of the populations and contexts impacted by our evaluation practice is critical–and substantially so when serving diverse, historically marginalized communities. This article, and the work of the Center for Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment (CREA) more broadly, explores the application of culturally responsive evaluation from both theoretical and practical lenses. Revisiting these resources was a timely reminder of the importance of actively and consistently reflecting on one’s own approach to evaluation and ensuring that it is culturally grounded.
Donte McGuire, MEd: Black Teacher Griot blog project
Andrea (she/her/hers) is a self-described “teacher, learner, curriculum designer, and lover of Black folks” whose site provides space for Black teachers to share their experiences as educators. I specifically appreciated the post, “Dreaming my way free…”
Key Takeaway: This particular blog post, “Dreaming my way free… “, is a great example of what I enjoy most about Andrea’s work and the Black Teacher Griot website. They both provide me with visions that exist beyond, but not disconnected from, the current inequitable and oppressive educational systems–visions that are always rooted in love and community.
In my work, a lot can be gained by immersing myself in the data. Yet, this quote from Andrea reminds me that there is also much to gain from intentionally setting the data aside to imagine possibilities I never thought was possible: “Some dreams are not simply about creating new realms, some are connecting us to the past, showing what is already inside our communities and ourselves.”
Tait Kellogg, PhD: “Rural Matters” podcast
I’ve been listening to the “Rural Matters” podcast, a reflection of my interest in rural higher education. Especially great was the recent episode with our partner at Education Design Labs, Leslie Daugherty, when we spoke about challenges and opportunities for community colleges in rural areas.
Key Takeaway: Rural areas are resilient and rural community colleges in particular are often instrumental institutions for their communities.