TIP Presents at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Meeting in Chicago April 19, 2023 – Posted in: Uncategorized

Teachers Institute of Philadelphia presented curriculum development work as part of a symposium at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 14. The annual event, which took place in Chicago this year, showcases groundbreaking studies across a wide range of areas of educational research.

TIP was part of a group of Teachers Institutes from around the country that organized a symposium entitled “Teachers as Co-Constructors of Truth, Knowledge, and Curriculum: Exploring Three Teachers Institutes Across The United States.” The symposium responded to the conference’s theme of “Interrogating Consequential Education Research in Pursuit of Truth” by showing examples of teacher research in support of culturally relevant classroom curricula.

Presenting on behalf of TIP were Director Edward Epstein and Teacher Karen Brinkley from the Cook-Wissahickon School. Their presentation, titled “Making Literature Relevant: Centering Contemporary African American Women Writers in a Teacher-Developed Curriculum Unit,” focused on Brinkley’s curriculum unit highlighting the contributions of African American women writers. The unit was designed to help students engage more deeply with these writers and their works, with the goal of promoting greater understanding and appreciation of their contributions to literature.

The symposium also featured presentations from educators and leaders from TIP’s sister institutes. From the Delaware Teachers Institute (DTI), Teacher Barbara Prillaman from the Red Clay Consolidated School District and Director Trish Hermance from the University of Delaware presented “Taking Risks, Challenging Assumptions, and Broadening Perspectives: Building and Sustaining a Supportive Teacher-Researcher Community.” From the Diné Institute for Navajo Educators (DINE) Teacher Jolene Rose Smith presented “Native Nation-Building Through Culturally Responsive Professional Development and Teacher-Authored Curriculum on the Navajo Nation.” Professor Emeritus of Political Science and TIP Seminar Leader Rogers Smith served as the discussant.

The contributions of Epstein, Brinkley, and their fellow presenters were a testament to the increasing recognition the Institute method is receiving among educators, administrators, and  educational researchers.