Tracy Cook-Person
Assistant Professor of Early Childhood/Childhood Urban Education
B.A. John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNYMS.Ed Pace UniversityABD The Graduate Center, CUNY
tracy.cook-person@liu.edu
Description
As an educator, lecturer, professional story teller and a published poet. I have been driven by a commitment to holistic and experiential education. My focus on building community and creating relationships between educational institutions and cultural/community institutions has been foundational to my work. Using a social justice and equity lens, I have created many educational programs and projects centered on cultural connection between students and NYC public school teachers. My work with major cultural and community based institutions has provided a rich tapestry for this collaborative academic work. Initially as a classroom ELA teacher, and later as an instructor of pedagogy, I have placed in the foreground, the need to build upon the inherent capacity of all students, I have used this capacity to support them in moving students further in their education and teachers in grounded practice.
Although I harbor a deep love for community work in education, I am also interested in education from a global perspective. My work with the United Nation, a partner school in Gernsbach Germany, and with the World Council of Curriculum and Instruction points to the ways that I have positioned my vision to a world perspective. My research interests are centered around teacher affect, mentorship and development, and my academic work continues to include as a focus the critical transition period between high school and college for students of African descent who are first generation college attendees. My work also encompasses leadership building for adolescents and for teachers. My time at both Hunter College CUNY and Teachers College have been places where my research began to take shape It is my hope to further these areas of research within LIU.
Publications
Guest co-editor (2016) with Debbie J. Sonu and Julie Gorlewski; Journal of Critical Education Policy Studies: Unheard Learners: Children and Youth Experiences in Neoliberal Schools
Peer reviewer (2016); Benson, Jeremy, Constructing an enemy within: Race, literacy and school knowledge in the transition to neoliberal capitalism, Theory Research and Action in Urban Education (TRAUE), CUNY on line journal
In press
Harushimana, I., Alfred, M. V., and Davis, RD. (Eds.). (forthcoming). A paradise to regain: Post-Obama insights from women educators of the diaspora. Myers Education Press
Cook-Person, T.C. (2018). Autobiographical Analysis as a Foundation for Reflective Practice. WCCI 18th World Council on Education, Rome Italy, July 2018, Alliant International University.
Lectures and Presentations
Research as a Curriculum of Healing: Centering Doctoral Work in Current Contexts and Conditions
Presenter (April 2018) AERA Conference Division B
Addressing Racism in Higher Education: Bridge Building Conversations in Spaces of Diversity
Facilitator (November 2017)
Teaching Shakespeare in Urban Contexts; University of Edinburgh via The New School
Lecturer (August 2016)
Supporting Arts Teachers in Dynamic Curriculum Design: ARTS CONNECTION NYC
Facilitator (November 2017)
Symposium for arts teachers seeking to create curriculum that connects educational arts projects to standards.
Teacher as Activist: TR@TC2, Teachers College, Columbia University
Coordinator (Fall 2015/Winter 2016) Why Teachers of Color should embrace the Black Lives Matters Movement,
Teacher as Activist: TR@TC2, Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Coordinator/Facilitator (Winter 2015) Arts as activism for classroom teachers
Education Graduate Students Society Conference (EGSS)- McGill University Montreal, Canada
Workshop moderator Spring 2015
California National Association for Multicultural Education (CA-NAME) California State University at Fullerton
Workshop presenter (Fall 2013) ‒ Facilitated/presented workshop at on preparing adolescent girls of color for leadership through mentoring and service learning
HLA Gernsbach- conference on Youth Leadership Conference
Co-generator/Facilitator (Spring 2012, Spring 2013, January 2018- present) – hosted/created student-led leadership conference on building sustainable leadership between Benjamin Banneker Academy High School and German Business High School, HLA Gernsbach, Involved presently in re-conceptualizing project for youth engagement.
American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE) Conference
Workshop presenter (2012)- “Decoding the Bard” A comprehensive examination of the advantages and impediments of teaching Shakespeare and other classical works to urban learners
Honors/Awards
Grant Activity
Brooklyn Historical Society Community educator recognition -2018
Claes Nobel Laureate Award for Teaching ‒ 2006, 2010, 2011. 2012, 2013, 2014
Who’s Who of American Teachers ‒ 2004, 2005, 2006
Phillis Hyman Award for Service to Youth ‒ 2012
Brooklyn Arts Council Grant; Storytelling/Mentorship Workshop ‒2000; Brooklyn Summer Shakespeare-ience ‒ 2013, 2014
CCNY grant for Brooklyn Summer Shakespeare-ience – 2013-2015
Congressional Award for Community Service to Youth from the Office of Congressman Hakim Jeffries ‒ Fall 2013
Citation for Service to Community from Brooklyn Borough President’s Office ‒February 2014
- WCCI UNESCO Delegate to the United Nations for global education
- Chair of the WCCI Teacher Education SIG
