Book Review: Finding Joy in Teaching Students of Diverse Backgrounds: Culturally Responsive and Socially Just Practices in U.S. Classrooms (pp. 59-61)

I am presently a Ph.D. Candidate in the Organizational Leadership program at Eastern University in St. Davids, PA.  I am currently serving in my fourth year as the Director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at The Agnes Irwin School (AIS) in Rosemont, PA.  Prior to joining AIS as a full-time Middle School English instructor, I worked as an elementary instructor for seven years in the Philadelphia and Delaware County, PA, public school systems.  As the director of diversity my primary responsibilities are to develop and implement policies, procedures, and programs that sustain an inclusive, equitable, and just school community.  Corresponding to these responsibilities, my research will examine the diversity process within the field of multicultural education in U.S. K-12 independent private schools.  It is an effort to understand current organizational approaches to diversity (i.e., race/ethnicity, class, and gender) which lead to equity for students and employees.  Through this research, I hope to gauge the impact of leadership models that effectively ensure educational and professional equity outcomes for students and adults—particularly for growing minority entrants.  As a diversity leader-practitioner, I have also become quite interested in exploring how the process is both implemented and experienced by the leader-practitioner and how the leader is integrated into the life of the institution.  Areas of interest are: Diversity & multiculturalism, multicultural education, equity & justice, women’s affairs, urban education and studies, adult education/literacy.  Summary of expertise:

• 5+ years executive experience
• 13 year K-12 educator (public/private)
• Program/curriculum design & evaluation
• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Managing multiple priorities/tasks
• Managing financial/material resources
• Event planning and implementation
• Cross-cultural team building/mediation
• Public speaking and presentations
• Student/adult mentoring, advocacy, coaching
• Mission-driven, self-directed
• Cross-departmental/divisional collaboration
• Appreciative inquiry and organizational culture change