We speak with Dr. Marsha Daria of Western Connecticut State University. Dr. Daria teaches undergraduate courses in the Department of Education and Educational Psychology. She explains how in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, the department reconfigured its curriculum to center social justice, equity, and self-reflection. She discusses the department’s recruitment initiatives to increase teacher candidate diversity.
Overview
00:00-00:29 Intros
00:29-02:44 Western Connecticut State College and its community
02:44-05:14 Westconn education department re-evaluation after George Floyd murder and subsequent movement
05:14-07:06 Social justice and equity assessment; self-reflection
07:06-07:53 Biases
07:53-08:25 Balancing academic and practical experience
08:25-09:46 Responding to “I’m not racist.”
09:46-15:27 Outreach and recruitment to Danbury students: 5th graders, and recruitment of high school students to go into education
15:27-16:37 Forthcoming article in The School-University Partnership Journal
16:37-17:00 Pushback?
17:00-18:19 Recruitment of faculty of color
18:19-19:12 Why college undergraduates are less diverse than Danbury schools student body
19:12-20:06 Challenges with teacher candidates
20:06-21:59 Outro
Transcript
Click here to see the full transcript of this episode.
Credits
Soundtrack by Poddington bear
Photo from wcsu.edu/education/
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