2024 NCTE National African American Read-In:
Pro-Black Curriculum in the Elementary Classroom
Wednesday, February 28, 2023
7:00 p.m. ET
NCTE and the NCTE Elementary Section welcome members to join us for a 2024 NCTE National African American Read-In event focusing on pro-Black curriculum. In this interactive presentation, you’ll hear Elementary Section Steering Committee members Jennipher Frazier and Izzie Tauheed discuss why pro-Black curriculum is needed and hear Jaqui Witherspoon, 2022 NCTE Donald H. Graves Writing Award recipient, showcase a unit developed around Hair Love by author Matthew A. Cherry and illustrator Vashti Harrison.
(NCTE and independent bookstores receive a small commission from purchases made using the bookshop.org links provided.)
This event is free to NCTE members.
Facilitator
Dr. Jennipher Frazier is an elementary literacy coach in Columbia, South Carolina, and is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early and Middle Childhood Reading/Literacy. She has a bachelor of arts degree in early childhood, a master of education degree in special education, an educational specialist degree in teaching with an emphasis on language and literacy, and a doctor of philosophy degree in language and literacy.
As an early childhood educator, she quickly began to know and understand that students learn differently and that there is no one-size-fits-all model. With this understanding of students’ learning differences, she made it her goal to know what her students needed, so that she could differentiate their instruction to help them be academically successful. Now, as a literacy coach, she works alongside teachers to develop a daily instructional experience that provides students with academic success, cultural awareness, and a critical consciousness.
Dr. Frazier is a wife, mother, and educator who understands the importance of all children seeing themselves, learning about others, and being advocates for themselves and others. Therefore, she strives to give children opportunities that will allow them to experience literacy in many ways.
Presenter
Jacqui Witherspoon is a third-grade teacher at Jackson Creek Elementary in Columbia, South Carolina. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a master’s degree in literacy studies. Jacqui’s mission is to ensure that students have an opportunity to present stories of their lived experiences, see a reflection of themselves in their learning environment, and have opportunities to learn about others. Jacqui is married with four children. During her downtime, she enjoys sports event and live music.
Presenter
Islah Tauheed is a courageous advocate for teachers, students, and their families. Ms. Tauheed is inspired by this quote from Audre Lorde: “When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” She strives to show up authentically in every space she occupies and creates an environment where those around her can do the same. She works toward change by creating safe spaces where all members of a learning community can let their guard down, express their true selves, and receive honest feedback.
Ms. Tauheed is currently a vice principal in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey, where she enthusiastically strives to create a mutually beneficial learning community centered in liberatory approaches that seek new possibilities in the field of education to encourage critical love, academic success, and student empowerment. Ms. Tauheed brings with her fourteen years of elementary teaching experience and two years of school leadership in the Bronx. She is a graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University, and a member of ASCD’s Emerging Leaders cohort; she also sits on NCTE’s Elementary Section Steering Committee.