Askwith Essentials: Education in a Diverse and Globalizing World

Educators today face the task of teaching children a new set of social, academic, and civic competencies to navigate a growing global economy and ever-changing society. On May 8, the HGSE Global Education Innovation Initiative (GEII) will bring together over 200 policy, practice, and research leaders a conference, Educating Students for a Diverse and Rapidly Changing World, to learn about innovations in education systems across the world and to discuss what students need to learn today in order to live their fullest lives.

The Global Education Innovation Initiative aims to advance how public education systems can support students in developing the competencies needed to live, work, and participate civically in the 21st century. The GEII will present findings from its work with partners in Chile, China, Colombia, India, Mexico, and Singapore.

In conjunction with the conference, Askwith Forums will host a panel on Tuesday, May 9, looking at how schools are preparing students to work with others from different racial and cultural backgrounds. The panel will also address some of the challenges that educators face in advancing the democratic mission of education.

Panelists

Roger Brooks, president and CEO, Facing History and Ourselves

• Before leading Facing History and Ourselves, Brooks was the Elie Weisel Professor of Judaic Studies at Connecticut College. Later, as dean of Connecticut College, Brooks led an initiative to recruit a more diverse faculty.
• Brooks has worked with Northwestern University’s Holocaust Educational Foundation, creating professional development for college educators teaching about the Holocaust.

Maureen Costello, director, Teaching Tolerance, Southern Poverty Law Center

• As the director of Teaching Tolerance, Costello oversees the development of multimedia toolkits and a host of other resources for implementing anti-bias education.
• A former high school social studies teacher, Costello directed Newsweek’s Education program, winning awards for the outlet’s young-adult-oriented civic maps.

Stephanie Jones, Marie and Max Kargman Associate Professor in Human Development and Urban Education Advancement, HGSE

• Jones’ research outlines the influences of poverty and exposure to violence on children’s social and emotional development. She has also measured the impact of various school-based interventions on the socio-emotional skills, social behavior, and academics of children.

James E. Ryan, dean and Charles William Eliot Professor, HGSE

• Since joining HGSE, Ryan has led a series of initiatives to institutionalize diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and practices, and recently launched “One and All,” a project to promote inclusive school communities for all kinds of students.

Moderator

• Fernando Reimers, Ed.M.’84, Ed.D.’88, Ford Foundation Professor of Practice, director, International Education Policy Program and of the Global Education Innovation Initiative, HGSE