Jeff Duncan-Andrade, Ph.d.

In support of our project, the team began with an inspiring day with Professor Jeff Duncan Andrade.  Jeff emphasized that the most powerful learning experiences come from the development of authentic relationships in the classroom. He also reminded us that students have an incredible capacity to be active agents of their learning. Keeping this in mind, we try to recall his mantra: “Once you learn you can learn- you can learn”, whenever we can.

Jeffrey Michael Reies Duncan-Andrade, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Raza Studies and Education Administration and Interdisciplinary Studies, and Co-Director of the Educational Equity Initiative at San Francisco State University’s Cesar Chavez Institute (http://cci.sfsu.edu/taxonomy/term/28). In addition to these duties, he teaches a 12^th grade English Literature class at Oasis Community High School (Oakland, CA) where he continues his research into the uses of critical pedagogy in urban schools. Before joining the faculty at SFSU, Duncan-Andrade taught English and coached in the Oakland public schools for 10 years and completed his doctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley.  Duncan-Andrade’s research interests and publications span the areas of urban schooling and curriculum change, urban teacher development and retention, critical pedagogy, and cultural and ethnic studies.  He has authored numerous journal articles and book chapters on the conditions of urban education, urban teacher support and development, and effective pedagogy in urban settings.  He recently completed a co-authored book on effective uses of critical pedagogy in the secondary classroom with Peter Lang Publishing and is finishing a second book on the core competencies of highly effective urban educators with Routledge Press.

Prepárate: Educating Latinos for the Future of America

San Antonio, TX April 2011

Prepárate brings together professionals from higher education, secondary schools, middle schools and community-based organizations for thought-provoking sessions and plenary speakers that address crucial topics in education. Rowland teachers attended workshops on opening access to AP classes, using AVID to support AP students, and engaging ELL's in the AP program. 

Nadine Loza, Alicia Morales, Kim Woo in San Antonio, TX Preparate Conference

Teachers 4 Social Justice

Mission High School, San Francisco, CA October 2010 and 2011

Teachers 4 Social Justice is a grassroots, teacher supported conference.  At the conference, teachers heard from educational leaders like Darrick Smith, Co-director of the June Jordan School for Equity in Oakland, CA, and Linda Darling-Hammond, Professor of Education at Stanford University.  Rowland Social Studies Academy teachers attended workshops ranging from using Howard Zinn in the classroom, to building parent engagement and leadership.  

Anaheim, CA December 2011 

Sessions highlighted best practices for improving adolescent literacy achievement. Keynote speakers, workshop sessions, and school panels focused on reading, academic vocabulary, comprehension, writing, and content literacy. Sessions  addressed instructional strategies for closing achievement gaps for English learners and students with special needs. Rowland Social Studies Academy teacher Alica Morales engaged  workshops to gain information on research-based classroom strategies for improving literacy.  The major goal of the Social Studies Academy is to engage students in planning for entrance into a four-year university, the theme of the conference increased teachers' understanding of how classroom strategies could connect students to the path of higher education.

The Choices Program Summer Institute 2011

Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University

Providence, RI Summer 2011

Rowland teacher, Nadine Loza, attended the Choices Summer Institute which focused on the U.S. and Afghanistan and provided leadership training for teachers who wanted to expand their use of Choices in their classrooms.  Participating in the institute allowed her to collaborate with teachers from around the country and exposed her to top scholars who study Afghanistan.  Teachers spent time sharing how they use and adapt Choices in their classrooms. In addition, they spent time going through the new unit on Afghanistan and worked with the Choices staff to share how we would use the unit in our own classrooms. 

The institute also gave teachers the opportunity to engage with experts in the social science field.  Some scholar presentations were from Jennifer Fluri, professor at Dartmouth College who spoke on the cultural landscape of Afghanistan, and Benjamin Hopkins, professor at George Washington University who presented a talk on 5 myths on the making of modern Afghanistan.  Teachers also “Skyped” with David Rohde, a former New York Times reporter who was kidnapped by the Taliban and escaped.  Finally, they had a question and answer session with U.S. Senator Jack Reed on U.S. policy on Afghanistan.

Check out Rowland teacher Nadine Loza participating in last year's Choices Summer Institute: the U.S. in Afghanistan.