Tyrone Howard featured speaker at UCI Teacher Academy's
"An Inspiring Talk for Educators"
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During Teacher Appreciation week in early May, the UCI Teacher Academy hosted Tyrone Howard at the Inspiring Talk for Educators webinar, which honored teachers for their commitment to K-12 youth.
Orange County Department of Education Teachers of the Year, UCI students and mentors, and teachers and administrators from the community were invited to reimagine teaching and learning to create more equitable and just educational systems. Dr. Howard, the Pritzker Family Endowed Chair and professor in the School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA, has been listed by Education Week as one of the 200 most influential scholars in the nation informing educational policy, practice and reform. His research examines equity, culture, race, teaching and learning. |
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Howard’s talk, “Supporting Teachers, Supporting Learning” highlighted the current research that affirms what teachers already know and are feeling: that the traumatic effects of the pandemic will not allow schools and classrooms to return to “normal.” Students are traumatized from pandemic loss, including the death of parents and caregivers, and suicides are rising among youth. Given this troubling data, Howard asked, “But how are teachers doing?”
The current National Education Association survey data reveals that 90% of teachers surveyed are experiencing burnout and stress, and educators in the audience felt affirmed when Howard shared this data and argued that we need to rethink and reimagine what we ask teachers to do. Rather than continuing to normalize the current demands on teachers, he said we need massive investments to support educators, including structural and systemic supports for teachers; reimagining teacher’s workloads, duties, and responsibilities; rethinking disconnected, irrelevant professional development; and providing teachers more time for planning.
Howard also stressed the need to conduct research that is teacher-centered, and he shared that he is leading a team that is conducting focus group surveys of Los Angeles teachers and asking them what types of support and professional learning would benefit them.
Educators in the audience asked Howard a variety of questions and continued the conversation with interests ranging from how to create inclusive and equitable classroom and school cultures; how to support educator and student well-being; and practical questions from teachers new to the profession. The issues and questions raised at the webinar are just the beginning of this important conversation for our educator network.
To follow this important event, the UCI Teacher Academy invites educators to a bookclub to discuss Howard’s latest book, All Students Must Thrive: Transforming Schools to Combat Toxic Stressors and Cultivate Critical Wellness. Additionally, the questions raised by the educator community attending the event will inform the upcoming offerings hosted by the UCI Teacher Academy as a way to continue to deepen our understanding of how we can best create a community centered on collaboration to inspire educators to lead for equitable educational outcomes for Southern California students.
The current National Education Association survey data reveals that 90% of teachers surveyed are experiencing burnout and stress, and educators in the audience felt affirmed when Howard shared this data and argued that we need to rethink and reimagine what we ask teachers to do. Rather than continuing to normalize the current demands on teachers, he said we need massive investments to support educators, including structural and systemic supports for teachers; reimagining teacher’s workloads, duties, and responsibilities; rethinking disconnected, irrelevant professional development; and providing teachers more time for planning.
Howard also stressed the need to conduct research that is teacher-centered, and he shared that he is leading a team that is conducting focus group surveys of Los Angeles teachers and asking them what types of support and professional learning would benefit them.
Educators in the audience asked Howard a variety of questions and continued the conversation with interests ranging from how to create inclusive and equitable classroom and school cultures; how to support educator and student well-being; and practical questions from teachers new to the profession. The issues and questions raised at the webinar are just the beginning of this important conversation for our educator network.
To follow this important event, the UCI Teacher Academy invites educators to a bookclub to discuss Howard’s latest book, All Students Must Thrive: Transforming Schools to Combat Toxic Stressors and Cultivate Critical Wellness. Additionally, the questions raised by the educator community attending the event will inform the upcoming offerings hosted by the UCI Teacher Academy as a way to continue to deepen our understanding of how we can best create a community centered on collaboration to inspire educators to lead for equitable educational outcomes for Southern California students.
About Tyrone Howard
Tyrone C. Howard is the Pritzker Family Endowed Chair and professor in the School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. Howard’s research examines equity, culture, race, teaching and learning. Howard is the faculty director of the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools, and he also serves as the director for the UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children & Families. Howard has published over 100 peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and technical reports. He has published several bestselling books, among them, Why Race & Culture Matters in Schools and Black Male(d): Peril and promise in the education of African American males. Howard is considered one of the premier experts on race, culture, educational equity and access in the country. Howard is also the Director and Founder of the UCLA Black Male Institute.
Howard is a native of Compton, California where he also served as a classroom teacher. He was named the recipient of the 2015 UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award, which is the university’s highest and most distinguished award for teaching excellence. During the last five years, he has been listed by Education Week as one of the 200 most influential scholars in the nation informing educational policy, practice and reform. Howard is a member of the National Academy of Education, and he is President-Elect of the American Educational Research Association.
Tyrone C. Howard is the Pritzker Family Endowed Chair and professor in the School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. Howard’s research examines equity, culture, race, teaching and learning. Howard is the faculty director of the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools, and he also serves as the director for the UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children & Families. Howard has published over 100 peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and technical reports. He has published several bestselling books, among them, Why Race & Culture Matters in Schools and Black Male(d): Peril and promise in the education of African American males. Howard is considered one of the premier experts on race, culture, educational equity and access in the country. Howard is also the Director and Founder of the UCLA Black Male Institute.
Howard is a native of Compton, California where he also served as a classroom teacher. He was named the recipient of the 2015 UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award, which is the university’s highest and most distinguished award for teaching excellence. During the last five years, he has been listed by Education Week as one of the 200 most influential scholars in the nation informing educational policy, practice and reform. Howard is a member of the National Academy of Education, and he is President-Elect of the American Educational Research Association.
About the UCI Teacher Academy
The UCI Teacher Academy provides a home for teachers and school leaders to develop and enhance their professional practice by offering programs in teacher preparation, professional development, teacher leadership, and administrator leadership. Professional development programs are offered through five California Subject Matter Partnerships - the Irvine Math Project, UCI California Reading & Literature Project, UCI History Project, UCI Science Project, and UCI Writing Project. By providing a context in which educators can collaborate, inspire and lead one another in transforming their instruction, the Teacher Academy is improving the learning outcomes for students of all backgrounds across Southern California. For more information, please visit our website.
The UCI Teacher Academy provides a home for teachers and school leaders to develop and enhance their professional practice by offering programs in teacher preparation, professional development, teacher leadership, and administrator leadership. Professional development programs are offered through five California Subject Matter Partnerships - the Irvine Math Project, UCI California Reading & Literature Project, UCI History Project, UCI Science Project, and UCI Writing Project. By providing a context in which educators can collaborate, inspire and lead one another in transforming their instruction, the Teacher Academy is improving the learning outcomes for students of all backgrounds across Southern California. For more information, please visit our website.
