Biography
My professional interests center on urban schools, specifically the damaging effects of poverty, that disadvantage, disenfranchised and dispossess students, their families, and the community. Instructional and curriculum innovation defines my teaching, service, and research through three distinct, but intersecting components: 1) urban school transformation, 2) democratic citizenship, and 3) social justice. I value to the power of collaborative action research, through distributive leadership and collective impact.
My service is not limited to the IUPUI campus, as I have worked extensively in the development of school and community relationships and the operations of full service community schools. I assisted in the reopening of the George Washington Community High School (GWCS), and the development of a full service community school. I teach my courses at the high school, which allows my students, preservice teachers an opportunity to create genuine encounters among students, teachers, community leaders, and culturally diverse families. As preservice teachers, they discover the complex, changing nature of culture, racial identity, and social justice as they rethink their roles as teachers in an ever-changing pluralistic society.
In 2012, I became a partner of The Midwest Center for University-Assisted Community Schools at IUPUI to provide technical assistance and training for school communities and universities throughout the Midwest in developing and enhancing collaborative engagement. Drawing on IUPUI's 15-year engagement with community schools in the Indianapolis Near-Westside and more recently Martindale/Brightwood neighborhoods, the Center is a regional site for a university-assisted community schools national replication project of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania.
My research examines the complexities of urban schools from a social justice and school reform perspective. In 2008, I became the Principal Investigator of a five-year 2.4 million dollar grant from the US Department of Education to develop a full service community school at George Washington Community High School. While my interest is in school reform initiatives, I have also completed evaluations for schools and community organizations that focus on equity, teacher education, and Latino students.
As a former executive director of a multiservice community center, The Hispanic Center, I bring an interdisciplinary understanding of urban issues and continue to preserve a vast network of community partners that validate my work. I have been instrumental in the formation of numerous organizations including the Midwest Hispanic AIDS Coalition and the Gamma Phi Omega Sorority Inc. My service in the community includes my involvement with various Boards including the Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis, Concord Neighborhood Center, and the Indiana ACT Board.
Education:
- Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction, Indiana University, 2012
- M.S., Higher Education, Indiana University, 1979
- B.A., Speech Pathology and Audiology, Indiana University, 1977
Courses:
- EDUC-H 341 American Culture and Education
- EDUC-J 500 Curriculum in the Context of Instruction
- EDUC-M 322 Diversity and Learning
- EDUC-S 555 Diversity and Community of All Learners
- EDUC-T 515 Interprofessional Collaboration in Urban Schools and Communities
Expert:
- Full Service Community Schools and Community- School Partnerships
- Interdisciplinary Practice in Urban Schools
- Multicultural Education specifically Equity Pedagogy, Multicultural Competence, Multicultural Teacher Efficacy
- Urban Education
Awards:
- 2014 - IU Latino Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award
- 2013 - Latino Educator of the Year Indianapolis Mayor Ballard
- 2013 - Chancellor's Award for Civic Engagement
- 2010 - Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis, Trailblazer Award
- 2009 - IUPUI Glen Irwin Excellence Award
- 2008 - United Way of Central Indiana- Lis Daily Outstanding Board Service Award , Minority Recognition Award
- 2008 - Sassafras Award- Indiana University Alumni Association- Distinguished Alumni in Education
- 2003 - United States Office of Minority Health, Hispanic Hero Award – Chicago, IL
- 2003 - IUPUI Dr. Joseph Taylor Award for Excellence in Diversity, Indianapolis, IN
- 2000 - La Plaza, Hispanic American Service Award – August 2000
- 2000 & 1999 - Indiana University, Trustees of Indiana University Teaching Excellence Recognition Award
- 1993 - State of Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash
Grants and Funding:
- 2008. Principal Investigator. US. Department of Education Full Service Community Schools - George Washington Community High School
Professional Associations:
- America Educational Research Association-Member
- Coalition for Community Schools-Member
- National Association for Multicultural Educators-Member
- Professional Organizational Development Network
- Concord Community Center-Board Member
- Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis-Executive Committee
- La Plaza Inc.-Board Chair
- Women's Fund of Central Indiana-Emeritus
- Indiana ACT Council