Teaching for Black Lives in Waldorf Schools

Building on GLWI’s inaugural Teaching for Black Lives in Waldorf Schools course, this year’s offering is a three day intensive focused on supporting, encouraging, and advocating for Black teachers in Waldorf schools. With a focus on inner development as well as practical strategies, this summer professional development course will help participants deepen their personal capacities for conversations about race while exploring ways to disrupt anti-Black racism in schools, create and sustain equitable schools, and navigate pushback and resistance to inclusion.

Central Themes: In alignment with the Zinn Education Project’s Teaching for Black Lives campaign, sessions will focus on the following themes:

• Centering Black joy in the classroom, not just oppression
• Deconstructing master narratives in the curriculum and teaching people’s history
• Exploring intersectionality
• Identifying and addressing the structural impact of racism in Waldorf schools (including topics such as school discipline, staffing, assessment policies, dress code, and curriculum)
• Nurturing mutual support and resistance in the midst of attacks on teaching honestly about U.S. history, racism, and LGBTQ+ identity

​Who should take this course?

• This course is designed for faculty and staff who are active in Waldorf schools and classrooms. While expertise is not required, participants should have some working knowledge of Waldorf school governance, developmentally appropriate practice, and curriculum planning.
• This course is appropriate for Black educators and non-Black allies with a commitment to supporting and advocating for the needs of Black teachers in Waldorf schools.

Instructors: Tai Amri Spann-Ryan, Amber Chavez

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM CDT