MMFS Faculty Out and About

MMFS believes in sharing our collective wisdom with the academic community, so that other teachers and schools can benefit from the work we do here. When our faculty and staff present at conferences and get published, they not only boost the reputation of the school but perform an act of service, sharing their knowledge with teachers so that they can better help students with learning disabilities.

Divya Seshadri and Emma Leary, co-teachers in the Dunbar Room, traveled to Nashville last week for the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Annual Conference. Their presentation, “Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities: Inclusive Curriculum and Kinesthetic Learning,” offered the thousands of social studies educators, administrators, and professionals in attendance a window and resources into incorporating anti-racist practices into the LD classroom; helping students explore their own identities as well as learn about the identities of classmates; using Current Events to understand the world around them; and using a “windows and mirrors approach” to curriculum. Their presentation emphasized incorporating Indigenous stories into the curriculum through project-based and hands-on learning/activities in order to develop greater awareness of and connection to Indigenous cultures.

Linda Jean-Mary, Upper School Language Therapist, reviewed Miles Morales Suspended the follow-up to Jason Reynolds’ groundbreaking young adult novel, Miles Morales: Spider-Man. Her review was published in the November issue of Klingbrief, a monthly newsletter from Columbia Teachers College containing readings of particular relevance to independent and international school educators. Linda described the protagonist as a “not-so-cool student who doesn’t quite fit in at his private school, struggles with family dynamics, and still has to fight crime” and urged teachers to “consider this quick read for middle schoolers as a way to foster discussion about race, identity, and institutional bias.” Now I can’t wait to read it!

Tatesha Clark, Assistant Head of School (DEI) was a presenter at the NAIS People of Color Conference in St. Louis. Tatesha co-led a workshop with Dr. AnaMaria Correa from Brooklyn Friends School called “Find Your People – Sisterhood as Survival: Integrating a Radical Relationship Practice Among BIPOC Women to Conjure Survivance, Power, Thriving, Connection and Joy.” The workshop discussed strategies for creating sisterhood among BIPOC women in independent school spaces as antidote, resistance, and resilience practice to combat isolation, racelighting, white supremacy and patriarchy.