Reimagining Education
The conceptual idea of an innovative program at Northern Parkway School in the Uniondale School District, founded by Assistant Principal Sheilah Dr. Jefferson-Isaac and coined The Dreamkeepers is based on the work of researchers Dr. Vanessa Siddle Walker and Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings. In the book, “Their Highest Potential – An African American School Community in the Segregated South” Siddle Walker shares the story of one school community in the segregated south. This school, Caswell County Training School, succeeded in providing nurturing educational environments and thrived with parental support even when faced with enormous obstacles. Siddle Walker’s research shows that the teachers and principal of this school believed their jobs extended well beyond the classroom and because the educators were genuinely interested in teaching the whole child (academically and socially), students had no choice but to be successful. Coupled with this research and conceptual model for change was the book “The Dreamkeepers - Successful teachers of African American Children” by Gloria Ladson-Billings. Ladson-Billings wrote: Culturally relevant teaching fosters the kinds of social interactions in the classroom that support the individual in the group context. Students felt a part of the collective effort designed to encourage academic and cultural excellence. As members of an extended family, the students assist, support, and encourage one another. The entire group rises and falls together. Thus it is in everyone’s best interest to ensure that the others in the group are successful.
The Dreamkeepers program at Northern Parkway School consists primarily of six core elementary school teachers who will use a “Whatever It Takes” model of community, accountability, and culturally relevant teaching, to embark on an educational journey with the same cohort of over 100 African American and Latina/o students, for the next four years. They are reimagining what education can look like and feel like for students, known as The Dreamchasers. They are committed to providing experiences for students that enhance their critical thinking, communication skills, creativity and foster collaboration.
