Addressing Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice in Changing School Communities

Presented by Dr. Flavia E. Iuspa, Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Education and Human Development, Florida International University; Dr. Elizabeth Cramer, Professor and Graduate Program Director, School of Education and Human Development, Florida International University; and Dr. Maria Tsalikis, Associate Teaching Professor, School of Education and Human Development, Florida International University

Sponsored by FIU Online – Florida International University

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In this edWebinar, discover practical ways to impact communities, schools, and students across diversity, inclusion, and social justice.

Headed by experts on global perspectives in teachers and students, politics of curriculum, urban special education, and literacy education, this discussion will cover curriculum and instruction and special education across diversity, inclusion and social justice for:

• Intersection of race, language, culture, poverty, and disability
• Culturally and linguistically exceptional learners in urban schools
• Parental involvement of families from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds
• Diverse students in urban education and schooling
• Curriculum development for English as a second language

This recorded presentation will help you meet the changing education needs of evolving communities and will provide practical tools and theories to impact diverse populations of learners. Presenters include experts with experience teaching students and collaborating with teachers from one of the largest public school districts in the United States.

This recorded edWebinar will be of interest to teachers and school and district leaders of all grade levels.

About the Presenters

Dr. Flavia E. Iuspa is an assistant teaching professor and the director of international programs and initiatives in the Department of Teaching and Learning at FIU’s School of Education and Human Development. Dr. Iuspa received her Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in international and intercultural education from Florida International University. She specializes in curriculum and instruction, and her research areas include internationalization process of higher education institutions, developing global perspectives in teachers and students, global citizenship education, preparing pre-service teachers to teach global issues, and politics of curriculum.

Dr. Elizabeth Cramer is Professor of Special Education and Graduate Program Director of Teaching and Learning. Her research is focused on the education of high-need children in inclusive urban settings. Her work explores opportunity and achievement gaps; the intersection of race, culture, language, poverty, and ability; collaboration with diverse family and faculty; data-based decision making; and placement issues and educational outcomes for diverse learners. Her research has led scholarly publications, national consultancies, and 12 federal grants totaling approximately $20 million in support of preparing diverse educators to work in urban settings with high-need students.

Dr. Cramer received her Ph.D. in special education and reading, her MSEd in teaching English to speakers of other languages and early childhood special education, and her BA in special education and psychology all from University of Miami. Previously, she taught special education in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Maria Tsalikis, Ed.D. has been serving students for 25 years​. She began her career with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. As a public-school teacher, Dr. Tsalikis taught a variety of grade levels from kindergarten to sixth grade and worked with struggling readers and students with special needs. As an associate teaching professor, Dr. Tsalikis has developed and taught graduate and undergraduate literacy courses in varying modalities.

Dr. Tsalikis’ background is in curriculum and instruction, with a focus in literacy education and special education. She has presented at state and national conferences in the areas of literacy and teacher preparation and has collaborated on several grants. Dr. Tsalikis is involved with the community through her leadership with projects at local public schools that focus on teacher preparation programs, teaching academies, teacher professional development, and more recently, with efforts bridging the achievement gap for struggling readers.

Closed captioning will be added to the recording within 2 weeks of the live presentation.

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FIU Online represents the virtual campus for Florida International University, the 3rd largest public university in the United States. Learner-centered and technology-driven, FIU Online increases educational access to all learners—anywhere, anytime. With the understanding that most online learners are working professionals, FIU Online offers over 100 fully online degrees.