Navigating Contentious Times in Rural Education

An Introduction to Volume 11, Issue 2 of TPRE

Authors

  • Jennifer Gallagher Department of Literacy Education and History Education, College of Education, East Carolina University
  • Benjamin Blaisdell Department of Special Education, Foundations, and Research, College of Education, East Carolina University. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1825-1823
  • Christy Howard Department of Literacy Studies, English Education and History Education, College of Education, East Carolina University
  • Janeé Avent Harris Counselor Education program, Department of Interdisciplinary Professions, College of Education, East Carolina University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3267-4937

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3776/tpre.2021.v11n2p1-14

Keywords:

Critical Race Theory, controversial issues, diversity, equity, inclusion, rural education

Abstract

In this introductory article to the special issue, the guest editors situate the articles of the issue within the current contentious climate surrounding critical race theory (CRT). They first provide a background and summary of the major tenets of CRT then apply those tenets to current legislation aimed at banning CRT in schools. They then situate the current backlash against CRT within a history of resistance to racial justice efforts in schools. The editors explain their stance on the current issue of CRT and then substantiate their position with evidence from the articles within the special issue. The conclusions they draw are that CRT is a valuable and applicable theoretical tool in schools and education research.

Author Biographies

Jennifer Gallagher, Department of Literacy Education and History Education, College of Education, East Carolina University

Jennifer L. Gallagher, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Literacy Studies, English Education and History Education department in the College of Education at East Carolina University where she teaches social studies education courses and serves as the program coordinator for the undergraduate and graduate history education programs. Gallagher is originally from northern Wisconsin and earned her BA and MEd from the University of Minnesota. She taught social studies for several years in Colorado and then earned her PhD at Iowa State University, where she also taught diversity courses, social foundations of education, and social studies methods. Her research and her professional efforts focus on supporting teacher candidates, in-service teachers, and P-20 students in critical inquiry of the social world. She has also collaborated with colleagues across the college and engaged in related work in literacy education, science education, and educational leadership. Her work has been presented and published in state, national, and international outlets including Social Education, Social Studies and the Young Learner, Social Studies Research and Practice, Education, Citizenship and Social Justice and Journal of Social Studies Research. She can be reached at gallagherj17@ecu.edu or on Twitter as @DrGSocialEd

Benjamin Blaisdell, Department of Special Education, Foundations, and Research, College of Education, East Carolina University.

Benjamin Blaisdell, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education, Foundations, and Research at East Carolina University. His scholarship focuses on how white supremacy and antiblackness are normalized in schools. He engages in a collaborative form of research and professional development called equity coaching, which uses critical race theory (CRT) to foster racial literacy and antiracist action with teachers, administrators, and other school personnel. This approach helps educators sustain racial equity efforts beyond training sessions and to develop the capacity to become racial equity leaders. He can be reached at blaisdellb@ecu.edu

Christy Howard, Department of Literacy Studies, English Education and History Education, College of Education, East Carolina University

Christy Howard, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Literacy Studies, English Education, and History Education in the College of Education at East Carolina University. Her research interests focus on culturally responsive literacy instruction, diversity and inclusion in children's literature, content area literacy, and the experiences of students and faculty of color. Her research has been published in several journals including Language Arts, Literacy Research and Instruction, and Action in Teacher Education. She can be reached at howardch14@ecu.edu

Janeé Avent Harris, Counselor Education program, Department of Interdisciplinary Professions, College of Education, East Carolina University

Janeé Avent Harris, PhD, is an associate professor and the graduate program director for the counselor education program in the Department of Interdisciplinary Professions at East Carolina University. She earned a BS in psychology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; MS in clinical mental health counseling; and PhD in counseling and counselor education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. After completing her graduate training, Avent Harris served children, adults, and families in a variety of clinical settings including a child/adolescent behavioral health center, college counseling, and Level 1 trauma center. She is a National Certified Counselor and Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (NC). Her research agenda examines cultural and contextual factors that contribute to the intersection of religion, spirituality, and mental health. Additionally, her scholarship and service focuses on diversity, equity, and social justice in counseling, education, academia, and beyond. She can be reached at aventj16@ecu.edu.

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Published

2021-11-09

How to Cite

Gallagher, J., Blaisdell, B., Howard, C., & Avent Harris, J. . (2021). Navigating Contentious Times in Rural Education: An Introduction to Volume 11, Issue 2 of TPRE. Theory & Practice in Rural Education, 11(2), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3776/tpre.2021.v11n2p1-14

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 2 (2021): Theory & Practice in Rural Education: Special Issue on Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity in Rural Schools and Communities

Section

Editorial

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Copyright (c) 2021 Jennifer Gallagher, Benjamin Blaisdell, Christy Howard, Janeé Avent Harris

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