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Women Educators and Philosophers: A Crowdsourced Celebration

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The majority of teachers in this country are women, their impact on the history of education is vast, but only a few are covered in textbooks on education or talked about among the major thinkers in the history of education. Their wisdom, experience and action research in and out of the classroom has helped shape the history of education.

Until the 1970’s most books about education were written by men. When Vivian Gussin Paley, an early educator at the Lab School, wrote her first book, White Teacher, her work as an author/scholar was dismissed and chastised. Her fellow teachers and academics didn’t believe that it was the teacher’s place to study the lives of children she taught.

Action research is now taught in teachers colleges, but we still often forget to celebrate the work of women educators, for example, quotes by John Dewey show up daily on social media, but Helen Parkhurst, his contemporary and a pioneer in Progressive Education who created “the Dalton Plan”, is often forgotten.

We have some of the best voices in education at the Cooperative Catalyst and I thought it would be great to celebrate some of the women educators that inspire us, and celebrate some of the texts we look to and shape our own teaching, thinking and writing.  I would like your help in creating a primer of women education philosophers and educators and/or wiki for students and new teachers.

I think we should be able to crowd source at least  100 (we passed 50 on May 28th 2012) Women educators and/or philosophers.   Also I would love to put together a paragraph or two or blog post on each of them, along with annotations of some of their best work. Please help me by submitting or blogging your contribution or/and email me at coopcatalyst@gmail.com

Here is my list so far

If you want to write about any of them feel free to add it below in the comment section or Lisa Nielsen created a google doc to collect them more formally here

Discussion

81 thoughts on “Women Educators and Philosophers: A Crowdsourced Celebration”

  1. Via Sue VanHattum

    “Please make sure Sylvia Ashton-Warner gets on your list. And I’ve really enjoyed a book by Sydney Gurewitz Clemens, The Sun’s Not Broken, A Cloud’s Just in the Way. She’s an early childhood educator in SF. I also find Rebeca Wild’s work very valuable.”

    Good luck with this project.

    Warmly,
    Sue VanHattum
    Math Professor, Contra Costa College

    Posted by dloitz | May 26, 2012, 10:02 pm
    Reply to this comment

  2. Joan Almon has done amazing work with the Alliance for Childhood and the crisis in the kindergarten and crisis in early childhood. Her play-based focus and emphasis on real work and opportunities for children is inspiring and incredible.

    Posted by Laura | May 26, 2012, 10:12 pm
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  3. Vea Vecchi and Olivia Gude are inspirational, progressive and passionate.

    Posted by Marla McLean, Atelierista | May 26, 2012, 10:47 pm
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  4. How about Diane Ravitch? I think she gets the current politics of reform and her current dialogue with Meier, Bridging Differences, is an informative testament to the many twists in the journey.

    Posted by glencoyote | May 27, 2012, 3:24 am
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  5. I vote for Nel Noddings…twice! For urging us to care.

    Posted by Paul Freedman | May 27, 2012, 3:50 am
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  6. I have read some of Maria Montessor’s books-Secrets of childhood and Absorbant mind are amazing.

    Posted by Sujata Sundaresan | May 27, 2012, 7:30 am
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  7. Thanks for this–much needed. I have several suggestions.

    First, Marilyn Katzenmeyer and Gayle Moller for “Awakening the Sleeping Giant,” the seminal book on teacher leadership. Also Jean Anyon, Amy Wells and Annette Lareau, for writing scholarly and persuasive books on the real impact of poverty on education. Mary Pipher, who broke new ground in writing about what it’s like to be a teenaged girl in America. And Margaret Wheatley, whose understanding of what lies under genuine leadership far surpasses the thousands of cook-book approaches to “leadership” as a step-by-step process.

    Posted by Nancy Flanagan | May 27, 2012, 7:47 am
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  8. Nancy Sizer, Barbara Brodhagen both scholars researchers and quiet radicals.

    Posted by Thomas Steele-Maley | May 27, 2012, 9:06 am
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  9. Quaker Sociologist Elise Boulding wrote a seminal work called “buildIng a global civic culture education for an interdependent world”.
    Again a quiet radical who touched thousands.

    Posted by Thomas Steele-Maley | May 27, 2012, 9:13 am
    Reply to this comment

  10. British Pychoanalyst Susan Issacs pioneered early participatory action research….recorded children’s views of society and education.

    Posted by Thomas Steele-Maley | May 27, 2012, 9:26 am
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  11. i would “nominate” a friend and local, Michelle Fine

    Posted by iteach4change | May 27, 2012, 10:12 am
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  12. Angeline Stoll Lillard author of “Montessori, The Science Behind the Genius.” Dennis Schapiro, Editor of the Public Montessorian writes, “Angeline Lillard may have changed the rules of engagement for debates on educational reform.”

    Posted by sherylmorris | May 27, 2012, 10:24 am
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  13. Aline D. Wolf, with 25 books to her credit, wrote a favorite of mine, “Nurturing the Spirit in non-sectarian classrooms.”

    Posted by sherylmorris | May 27, 2012, 10:30 am
    Reply to this comment

  14. Jane Nelsen, Ed.D. has written many books regarding “Positive Discipline.” “The key to discipline is not punishment, but mutual respect.”

    Posted by sherylmorris | May 27, 2012, 10:33 am
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  15. Rachael Carson, author of “Silent Spring.”

    Posted by sherylmorris | May 27, 2012, 10:35 am
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  16. Current favorites online are Lisa Michele Nielsen of the Innovative Educator and Laura Flores Shaw of Collaborative Montessori Initiative.

    Posted by sherylmorris | May 27, 2012, 11:44 am
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  17. Catherine Marshall and Maricela Oliva (2010) wrote a wonderful book titled: Leadership for Social Justice; Making Revolutions in Education. There are a few women contributors in this book who not only speak out about issues of social justice, they are actually doing wonderful work to challenge these inequities. Another valuable resource for anyone in the field of education is: The Power of Mindful Learning by educational theorist Ellen Langer. And last but not least, check out Rachael Kessler’s book:The Soul of Education, a amazing text on cultivating communities of inclusion, authenticity and learning.

    Posted by Dee Harris | May 27, 2012, 1:00 pm
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  18. Jane Roland-Martin (The Schoolhome)

    Posted by Paul Freedman | May 27, 2012, 4:06 pm
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  19. Excellent list—all inspirations. I would like to suggest Susan Ohanian be added to the list. She has written several books that rail against standardized testing and advocates for having students fall in love with reading. Personally, I devour her site, susanohanian.org, where she features research, articles, and opinion pieces on school reform. She is my inspiration to speak out against the privatization of public schools.

    Thanks for creating this important list.

    Posted by Francesca Blueher | May 27, 2012, 4:20 pm
    Reply to this comment

  20. via my tumblr feed

    thewordofthepeake answered:

    “Margaret McMillan, Susan Issacs, Chris Athey, Margaret Donaldson”

    ameganthomas answered:

    “Lucy Sprague Mitchell (founder Bank Street College)”

    carolineferguson answered:

    “Mary Wollstonecraft. Wrote Vindication of the Rights of Women, where she boldly argued for educating girls. ”

    thethinkinghuman answered:
    “Maya Angelou”

    Posted by dloitz | May 27, 2012, 4:27 pm
    Reply to this comment

  21. Riane Eisler!!! Tomorrow’s Children

    Posted by holisticdancingmonkeygmonkey | May 27, 2012, 10:25 pm
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  22. Alice Miller (for exposing cruelty within education), Sarah Lawrence-Lightfoot (for contributions to qualitative research, portraiture, and general brilliance and wisdom), Mary Leue (for unyielding advocacy of freedom) -a diverse trio, this!

    Posted by holisticdancingmonkeygmonkey | May 27, 2012, 10:33 pm
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  23. I would nominate Dr. Sharon Friesen from the University of Calgary and Galileo Educational Network (http://educ.ucalgary.ca/profiles/sharon-friesen). Over the last 20 years, she has been instrumental in initiating educational change at all levels of our education system. Her work continues to inform policy makers and push the educational research agenda forward both in our own province and around the world.

    Posted by Charmaine Brooks | May 27, 2012, 10:48 pm
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  24. This is so much fun! We are at 50+… now lets get to 100! Also if any wants to do some writing around one of these amazing women let me know! Thank you all for your help!

    David

    Posted by dloitz | May 27, 2012, 11:31 pm
    Reply to this comment

  25. Lella Gandini and Loris Malaguzzi, for preserving “the hundred languages.” Thanks, David. This IS fun! I find myself stopping short in the middle of doing something and thinking, “OMG, how could we have omitted…?!?!”

    Posted by Paul Freedman | May 28, 2012, 10:29 am
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  26. Okay, my last contribution: Zenobia Barlow (Ctr for Ecoliteracy.) Why don’t more people know this name? Check her out:

    Brilliant!

    Posted by Paul Freedman | May 28, 2012, 12:28 pm
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  27. Great that Lucy Srague Mitchell was mentioned. I would also add Betty Jones at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena. She looked at play and its impact on children. Books: The Play’s the Thing, Master Player and Playing to Get Smart. She influenced my life as an educator. Also am very interested in Carol Dweck’s work on how mindset affects learning. Her book: Mindset.

    Posted by Faige Meller | May 28, 2012, 6:14 pm
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  28. I would add Linda Levstik. Her life-time achievements in History Education have helped change the nature of that discipline from “dates, names, and places” to historical analysis and perspective.

    Posted by Dr. William Lopez | May 28, 2012, 10:50 pm
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  29. Via My Friend that attend Goddard College

    Scott Harris:

    “Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, Diane Ravitch, Sarah Lawrence Lightfoot, Virginia Lynn Fry, Grace Llewellyn, Jane Vella, Ruby Payne, Nancy F. Sizer, to name a few.”

    Vanessa Steck:

    ” Sophia Lyon Fahs!”

    Amy Onslow O’Hara:

    “Sue Fleming, Patty Younce and Karla Haas Moscowitz.”

    Posted by dloitz | May 28, 2012, 11:43 pm
    Reply to this comment

  30. I am adding Paula White, a Cooperative Catalyst founder and one of my favorite teachers and thinkers writing about elementary education, democratic education and social media! I am very lucky to call her a friend!

    Posted by dloitz | May 28, 2012, 11:44 pm
    Reply to this comment

  31. I nominate Angela Maiers

    Angela is a leader in passion-driven learning and supporting educators in showing every child why they matter. Her site is http://www.angelamaiers.com/

    Posted by Lisa Michelle Nielsen | May 29, 2012, 4:27 pm
    Reply to this comment

  32. gail griffin, from kalamazoo college, has made a tremendous impact on me with her books, teachings, and writings. i only WISH i’d gone to k- college!

    Posted by wanderingeducators | May 29, 2012, 4:50 pm
    Reply to this comment

  33. Nancy Atwell for her work in popularizing writing and reading workshops as well as for her compassionate and utterly beautiful look at the Middle School learner.

    Also, Katie Salen, whose view of the future of education through her Quest schools and the incorporation of game design into learning environments is an amazing, kung-fu like move within education.

    Posted by Garreth Heidt | May 29, 2012, 6:32 pm
    Reply to this comment

  34. Thank you. I am honored to be included among these women. So many of them have guided my work.

    Posted by Susan Ohanian | May 30, 2012, 5:45 pm
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  35. equalityblogdirectory answered: Vandana Shiva, Stacyann Chin, Suheir Hammad, Melissa Harris-Perry, Sheryl WuDunn, Leymah Gbowee

    clarityplenty2011 answered: Toni Morrison

    roxannewright answered: Audre Lorde if she counts

    minhas–lembrancas answered: juliana godoi

    Posted by dloitz | May 30, 2012, 5:52 pm
    Reply to this comment
  36. Reply to this comment

  37. This list is exciting, women in this field definitely aren’t recognized or celebrated often enough. What a great idea to do this.

    Two women that I thought of were Karen Gallas and Sonia Nieto. Below, I’ve written a bit about them, who they are, my experiences with their work, why they’ve inspired me, etc.

    Karen Gallas –

    “When given the opportunity, listen to the children. They will show you what they know and how they learn best, and often that way is not the teacher’s way.”

    As a teacher-researcher, Karen Gallas has shared her classroom stories to show how she’s developed her philosophies about children and how they communicate their knowledge. By allowing and supporting exploratory talk, Gallas has great insights into alternatives for how we can ‘assess’ learning, and how we can learn from students.
    Her examples of students using exploratory talk or artistic outlets to communicate are inspiring. When reading her book The Languages of Learning in my first education class, I found myself constantly stopping to think and rethink my beliefs about children. Gallas discusses how she had to check herself; sometimes it felt like a huge stretch to allow the kids to share their knowledge in a different way, and not get in the way of that. Sometimes, society’s traditional views on how children learn and what constitutes as learning become ingrained in us in small ways we hadn’t known. Gallas urges us to take a step back, to stop and think, to truly try and understand how kids (and everyone for that matter) learn and how they show it.
    In another quote from The Languages of Learning, Gallas offers the way she, and her classroom, came to understand ‘knowing’:
    “What we understood… was that knowing was not just telling something back as we had received it. Knowing meant transformation and change as well as a gradual awareness of what we had learned.”

    Karen Gallas is a teacher-researcher who has taught in public schools of Massachusetts since 1972. While teaching, she has researched her own teaching philosophies and strategies, and has paid close attention to how children share their understandings. She also focuses on the role of the arts in learning, and has written some books about her experiences as a teacher-researcher and her findings. She received her Ed.D. in education from Boston University in 1981 and is a member of the Brookline Teacher Research Seminar.

    Posted by kaparks | May 31, 2012, 7:08 pm
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    • Sonia Nieto –

      Her eyes were bright, full of passion, full of kindness, full of intent not to lecture but to instead create an atmosphere where learning could happen. And so she created that atmosphere in a lecture room at The Evergreen State College – with her passion, kindness, and understanding. I had never heard of Sonia Nieto, but was urged to attend her talk she was giving at my college. Through exercises, discussions, questions and answers, and honesty, I managed to learn more in those two hours than I ever thought I could.
      That day, Sonia Nieto got everyone in the room to think and talk about where we hold agency, or privilege, and where we don’t. We explored the idea of allyship. What does it really mean to be an ally? How do we continuously work towards being an ally?
      Since then, I have read many of her articles, and have been waiting to get my hands on some of her books. Sonia truly understands what she writes and talks about. In no way does she claim to be the expert; she shows humility and makes it clear she is still striving to understand more and make change. Her ability to throw away the academic jargon and talk to people in ways we can understand and learn from was incredibly refreshing. Nothing is ‘dumbed down’, yet she makes her ideas accessible, which is something that I think many forget to do.

      Sonia Nieto has experience teaching students all levels, from elementary to post grad, and from diverse backgrounds. She received her B.S. in Elementary Education from St. Johns University and proceeded to begin teaching in Brooklyn and The Bronx. Nieto then moved to Massachusetts and completed her doctoral studies n 1979 with specializations in curriculum studies, bilingual education, and multicultural education, and has written many books on those subjects.

      Posted by kaparks | May 31, 2012, 7:09 pm
      Reply to this comment

  38. Karin Chenoweth of The Education Trust. Her three books on high-achievement schools with challenging populations (It’s Being Done: Academic Success in Unexpected Schools, How It’s Being Done: Urgent Lessons from Unexpected Schools, and Getting It Done: Leading Academic Success in Unexpected Schools) give a blueprint of how to move schools and districts to high achievement for all students.

    Posted by Mia Munn | June 1, 2012, 8:43 pm
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  39. Reblogged this on elketeaches and commented:
    Love it! 🙂

    Posted by elketeaches | June 1, 2012, 8:46 pm
    Reply to this comment

  40. Constance Weaver-Grammar in context
    Linda Christensen- Rethinking Schools
    Naomi Shihab Nye- Poetry

    Posted by danriles | June 1, 2012, 9:31 pm
    Reply to this comment

    • Yes, yes, to both of these women. They are each, in their own way, quirkly, out of the box thinkers who remain true to their calling. Nye’s poem, “Famous” is one that I share with every group of students I work with. And Re-Thinking Schools is a beacon of good writing, progressive teaching, and just about the only non-apologetic progressive teaching tool around.

      Posted by Nancy Letts | June 3, 2012, 4:37 pm
      Reply to this comment

  41. David,
    I am truly honored to be listed here. I have to tell you that I usually hate lists that share “the best….” or the “10 most readable….” or whatever, because NO ONE can know all that is out there or everyone that is our there and some amazing thinkers, writers, educators, twitterers, whateverers get left out. I hate exclusion of any kind.

    So, what I really like about this is the crowdsourcing…the adding anyone that is suggested so that no one is excluded–there is no vetting, no examining of being “worthy” but instead there is trust in the crowd to share people we would all love to think with and get to know.

    I also love that you are aiming for 100, but if we got 1000 that’s okay too–we’ll list folks who are suggested, and I, for one, will look to learn from them.

    Thank you for starting this, my friend.

    Paula

    Posted by Paula White | June 2, 2012, 9:05 am
    Reply to this comment

    • Your comment means a lot. I agree sometimes it is good just to celebrate, no ranking! This process is allowing me to learn something about all of these women. I am amazed by the variety of their work and their impact. Beyond that it is just fun!

      David

      Posted by dloitz | June 2, 2012, 2:33 pm
      Reply to this comment

    • By the way, I am taking on your challenge to get to 1000! 🙂 My first goal was 25… we are probably at 100 now.. I need to finish adding all the new names.

      Posted by dloitz | June 2, 2012, 2:35 pm
      Reply to this comment

  42. David,
    Marie Clay needs to be here. Her work with early literacy has impacted so many teachers, and thus, so many, many kids. She was an amazing educator whose work will continue to impact young children learning to read.
    http://www.readingrecovery.org/reading_recovery/marie_clay/index.asp

    Paula

    Posted by Paula White | June 2, 2012, 12:09 pm
    Reply to this comment

  43. Love this. Here’s a few more:

    – Elizabeth Bryne Ferm: Educator and author in the late 1800s and early 1900s, brought Froebel’s ideas to life, worked with Modern Schools, and wrote a great little book called Freedom in Education

    – Betty Jean Lifton: Author of books and plays for children and adults, she also publicized the incredibly life and story of Janusz Korczak, a Polish educator and advocate for children’s rights who ran progressive orphanages before and during WWII and was killed with his students. Thanks to Betty Jean Lifton, we have an amazing biography about him called The King of Children

    – Margaret Ledwith: British educator and Freirian scholar, she’s applied Freire’s work to youth organizing and social justice work. Amazing book by her: Participating in Transformation – Towards a Working Model of Community Empowerment.

    – Lynn Mikel Brown: Foremost researchers and educators on girl empowerment and gender equality. Many great books including Girlfighting and Meeting at the Crossroads with Carol Gilligan.

    Posted by Dana Bennis | June 2, 2012, 2:24 pm
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  44. Oh, and Debora Ruf–a gifted educator (and educator who researches giftedness) who wrote one of my favorite books, originally titled “Losing Our Minds: Gifted Children Left Behind.” A must read for everyone, in my mind–it makes one think, even if the reader does not agree with all of it.

    And then there’s Debbie Silver–an educational motivational speaker who recounts her stories of the classroom and will have you in tears one moment and laughing through those tears within another 30 seconds. She wrote another of my favorites, “Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers: Finding the Rhythm for Teaching Differentiated Learning.” She’s an amazing speaker and educator.

    And how could anyone who teaches gifted ed not mention Carole Tomlinson. Her work has brought differentiation to the forefront of many educators’ thinking–but she advocates it not for gifted children, but for all–and her definition of differentiation is “just good teaching.” As a teacher in my building says, “Everyone gets what they need.”

    This really has me going now–expect more. 🙂

    Paula

    Posted by Paula White | June 3, 2012, 7:35 am
    Reply to this comment

  45. In my ongoing thinking about material tinkering next year, I think often of Limor Fried and Leah Buechley.

    Best,
    C

    Posted by Chad Sansing | June 3, 2012, 10:17 am
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  46. Please don’t forget Peggy McIntosh and Emily Style, co-founders of SEED, (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity. SEED trains teachers to lead seminars for their own faculty. Each month we devote time reading, thinking and talking about our own gendered experiences and its impact in the classroom. The experience changed my life forever.

    Posted by Nancy Letts | June 3, 2012, 4:42 pm
    Reply to this comment

  47. Can’t believe I forgot to add Constance Kamii. Kamii has written many books on Piaget’s theory in practice and on reinventing math. Click on the link above to find a huge collection of her writing.

    Posted by dloitz | June 4, 2012, 2:43 am
    Reply to this comment

  48. Susan Engel

    “Narrative development, autobiographical memory, children’s play, teaching and learning in schools, and the development of curiosity”

    Most recently she is seen in the video for the Independent Project.

    Posted by dloitz | June 4, 2012, 6:01 pm
    Reply to this comment

  49. “Sally Jenkinson is a lecturer, mother and kindergarten teacher. She works for the Alliance for Childhood, having advised Waldorf kindergartens for many years. She is a respected contributor to British and European research conferences on early childhood. She is a tireless advocate of children’s holistic developmental needs, particularly to the Department for Employment and Education during their consultation on early years education for the national curriculum.” (http://www.steinerbooks.org/author.html?au=1007)

    Iona Opie ” is a world-renowned researcher and writer on European folklore and children’s street culture.[citation needed] She is considered an authority on children’s rhymes, street & playground games and the Mother Goose tradition.”

    Alice Waters, the chef, author and activist “bring school children into a new relationship with food by making a healthy, fresh, sustainable meal a part of the school day”

    Posted by dloitz | June 4, 2012, 8:26 pm
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  50. David, Thank you! What a wonderful group of women and I am honored to be mentioned. There are so many wonderful educators who have contributed to my life and the lives of so many already on this list. I am adding a few more ( although I could add many others) Angella Gibbons, Director of EarthWalk and Jane Jervis, past president Evergreen, Kathleen Kesson, previous EDU Program Director Mary Carr, Boston English High School and Fenway teacher.

    Posted by Susan Fleming | June 5, 2012, 3:50 pm
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  51. Please add Pearl Rock Kane of the Klingenstein Center at Columbia to your list. Many independent school educators hold her in the highest of esteem.

    Could you also add Heidi Hayes Jacobs of Curriculum 21. Genius!

    Cheers,
    Sarah B. Thomas
    Jun 4 (2 days ago)

    Posted by dloitz | June 5, 2012, 5:09 pm
    Reply to this comment

  52. Via Margo Julia DiGregorio

    Avital Ronell: Literary critc, philosopher and feminist


    Examined Life – Judith Butler & Sunaura Taylor

    Shirley Steinberg

    http://www.westviewpress.com/book.php?isbn=9780813344898
    Westview Press: Kinderculture by Shirley R. Steinberg

    Posted by dloitz | June 6, 2012, 12:28 am
    Reply to this comment

  53. “I submit Carol Ames and Ann Brown.

    Thank you,

    Kay Alderman”

    Posted by dloitz | June 8, 2012, 12:14 pm
    Reply to this comment

  54. Bill Sowder suggested “Louise Rosenblatt”

    Posted by dloitz | June 8, 2012, 12:22 pm
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  55. I would like to nominate Mary Utne O’Brien from CASEL who died in 2010. There is an award in her honor at CASEL. Mary Utne O’Brien Award To honor Mary’s memory and promote her dedication to high-quality practice in social and emotional learning. http://casel.org/publications/mary-utne-o%E2%80%99brien-award-brochure/

    Posted by Mark Wilding (@mwilding) | June 8, 2012, 3:10 pm
    Reply to this comment

  56. I have felt for a long time that “teacher leadership” suffered from the time-honored tradition of grooming (male) coaches for the (male) principalships, (male) superintendentships, and so on up the food chain. In gatherings of “teacher leaders”, I experienced the co-opting of discussions by those selfsame (male) teacher leaders that I finally opted not to play in their sandboxes any more. However, when I look at the voices that have been most influential in my practice, the education of students with disabilities, I am much heartened by the number of women who have come to shape my thinking:

    Beth Harry
    Geneva Gay
    Sonia Nieto
    Deborah Meier
    Linda Darling-Hammond
    Ann Turnbull
    Jean Anyon
    Ellen Brantlinger
    Martha Nussbaum
    Elizabeth Kozleski
    Marlene Pugach
    Lisa Delpit

    And, I thank goodness for scholars in Disability Studies in Education who are appearing in the arena of public opinion more and more:

    Deborah Gallagher
    Kathleen Collins
    Susan Gabel
    Jan Valle
    Beth Ferri

    I’ve plenty of role models, new and established, whom I can follow when I seek to invent myself as a social activist and teacher leader.

    Posted by N Kathleen Kosobud | June 11, 2012, 12:31 pm
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  57. For all the women who teach, even if you do not write, stand at the forefront or take the limelight of center-stage, remember to include yourselves. You do not need to be a “rock star” to be important.

    Here are the names of four sisters from a family of eight children you are unlikely to have heard of: Elizabeth (Fisher) Miller; Helen (Fisher) Davis; Katheryn (Fisher) Tjart, and Irma (Fisher) Snavely. Each taught for decades — one for forty years. Each left their mark upon their students and all others they interacted with.

    Posted by Brent Snavely | June 13, 2012, 3:06 pm
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  58. I would like to recommend that Bel Kaufman, author of “Up the Down Staircase” be added to this list.

    Posted by Rita | June 13, 2012, 3:11 pm
    Reply to this comment

  59. Ella Flagg Young.

    Posted by Thomas J. Mertz | June 16, 2012, 5:04 pm
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  60. Marian Wright Edelman (Children’s Defense Fund) is one of my heroes. Her work for children is to be lauded.

    Posted by TJ Shay | June 22, 2012, 10:00 pm
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  61. Uh oh, dude, Loris Malaguzzi is a man, so I guess he has to come off the list, my bad. Can I offer a substitute? Louise Cadwell.

    Posted by Paul Freedman | July 5, 2012, 10:06 am
    Reply to this comment

  62. I would like to mention late Elisabeth Cohen, emeritus professor of education and sociology at Stanford University. I wrote a bit about her work here: http://shankerblog.org/?p=3324

    Thank you for this wonderful project.

    Posted by Esther | August 6, 2012, 2:10 pm
    Reply to this comment

  63. Lisa, did you include yourself? You are definitely a leader and educator that effects change as an advocate for students. If not done already, I would like to nominate Sheryl Nussbaum Beach for her work in mentoring educators on academia and technology to positively impact student achievement. Sheryl’s blog: http://www.21stcenturycollaborative.com

    Posted by Kim Caise | October 27, 2013, 12:29 am
    Reply to this comment

  64. Dr. Elizabeth Coe is a Montessorian and created a secondary model for Montessori education.

    Posted by Heather | June 13, 2014, 6:29 pm
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  65. Marilyn Burns came immediately to mind as someone who has informed my teaching of math – definitely a “must read” for new (or any, really) teachers. I’m also a big fan of Gail Boushey and Joan Moser (aka “The Two Sisters”), authors of ‘The Daily 5’ and ‘The CAFE Book’. These books completely changed the way I teach literacy.

    Posted by seethinkteach | June 15, 2014, 9:25 am
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