Karen Hunter Quartz: Social Justice Teachers in the Community Schools Movement

Karen Hunter Quartz, director of the UCLA Center for Community Schooling, has co-authored a look at “Classroom Teachers in the Community Schools Movement: A Social Justice Perspective” for the Spring newsletter of the American Federation of Teachers.

Quartz highlights the work of Jason Torres-Rangel, a high school English teacher at UCLA Community School, and a senior research associate for the National Writing Project.

“The teachers at the UCLA Community School share an identity as social justice educators, and they have designed the school to be democratic at every turn, supported by the deft leadership of principal Leyda Garcia,” writes Hunter Quartz, who was part of the creation of UCLA Community School in 2009 as director of research … “They see their work extending beyond the classroom, in partnership with others, in order to advance deeper learning as well as to further the cause of social justice within their communities. Learning in their schools is designed to engage students and ignite their passions.

“Making sure that community school teachers and other adults can sustain this work requires a deep commitment to the type of democratic work structures that Jason and his colleagues have established,” writes Hunter Quartz. “As the stories of these powerful teachers attest, embracing community schooling goes far beyond wraparound services. At its heart, this is a movement to redefine teaching and learning.”

Visit this link to read “Classroom Teachers in the Community Schools Movement: A Social Justice Perspective,” co-written by Karen Hunter Quartz.