Our Work

Online Critical Professional Learning Community

It has given me the courage and the tools to embed equitable teaching practices into my daily routine and center my students in my teaching.

- Alyssa Carson

  • comprised of BU Wheelock Literacy Alumni 

  • an ongoing critical activist community of 12-14 teachers that meet twice a month on zoom

  • the group reads, watches, and listens to a wide range of texts to better understand systems of oppression, current research, and how both connect to classroom practice

  • presented at NCTE 2024 Annual Conference in Boston, MA

I have gained valuable knowledge that has helped me become a stronger advocate for students. By continuing in this professional development, I can continue to expand my knowledge of culturally sustaining literacy strategies and texts that I can share with educators in my school.

- Kati Phelan

This group has helped me work through my culture shock and my problems of practice, giving me the motivation, ideas, and tools I need to stay in the classroom and keep finding creative solutions that fight for my students' rights and literacies.

- Mollie Wright

Sun Prairie Area School District - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

  • worked with various stakeholders to review and revise packaged literacy curriculum materials for a humanizing education that aligns with the district’s instructional framework and board adopted equity statement 

  • coached review and modification teams to identify missing and problematic representations 

  • revised and/or created lessons with new, inclusive texts using existing standards and assessments 

  • collaborative stakeholders include: teachers, community members, administrators, state level consultants, members of the Ho Chunk Nation and Wisconsin Indian Education Association 

Our partnership with the Center for Educating Critically has been integral in our rapidly diversifying district's work to ensure all students are seen, heard, and valued in our curriculum.  Dr. Jimenez and Dr. McIlhagga are incredibly knowledgeable and adept at re-writing and modifying existing curriculum and instructional materials in a manner that adheres to the integrity of the scope and sequence while minimizing the potential for curriculum harm to be perpetuated in our schools.  Their deep knowledge of literacy, pedagogy, history, and children's literacy has been transformative in our system.  Every interaction I've had with them is professional and thought-provoking as they both have the gift of pushing my thinking about culturally responsive teaching and learning in an accessible, non-threatening way.  

Dr. Stephanie Leonard, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning, and Equity

Sun Prairie Area School District, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Mapping Racial Trauma:
Dr. Stephanie Jones
Grinnell College 

  • We provided undergraduate students to help clear the backlog of almost 1200 reported cases. They have been able to help streamline the process and add new categories. To date they have input more than 300 cases. 

  • See the results of their work on the Mapping Racial Trauma website.

  • Co-Presented Mapping the Locus of Racial Trauma in Schools by Time, Space, and Curriculum with Dr. Jones at National Council of Teachers of English Assembly of Research Conference 2024, Austin, TX

Somos Escritoras/We Are Writers: Dr. Tracey Flores - Austin, TX

  • Somos Escritoras runs writing workshops and book clubs for Latinas (grade 6-8).  

  • Their mission is to support Latina girls in continuing to develop their many literacies while learning new tools to speak their truths, define themselves, and amplify their voices within a supportive community of Latina girls and women.​

  • We provided books for student participants for the summer and fall 2024 programs.

Multicultural Classroom:
Lorena Germán - Florida

  • Multicultural Classroom is dedicated to transforming schools & organizations  through culturally sustaining practices

  • Teachers developed classroom literature guides to be used in conjunction with Ms. Germán’s Textured Teaching resources. 

  • We provided children’s literature books to the teachers developing the guides as well as proof-readers to assist with final drafts of the guides prior to publication.

Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo

Feel inspired by one of our projects? Questions about what you see? Contact us.