EQUITY LITERACY TEAM

PAUL GORSKI

Founder and Lead Equity Specialist

Paul is the founder of the Equity Literacy Institute and EdChange. He has 20 years of experience helping educators strengthen their equity efforts in classrooms, schools, and districts. He has worked with educators in 48 states and a dozen countries. Paul has published more than 70 articles and has written, co-written, or co-edited twelve books on various aspects of educational equity including Reaching and Teaching Students in Poverty: Strategies for Erasing the Opportunity Gap and Case Studies on Diversity and Social Justice Education (with Seema Pothini). He is the author of the Multicultural Pavilion, an online compendium of free resources for educators. Paul earned a PhD in Educational Evaluation at the University of Virginia. He was a teacher educator at several universities for 15 years. He is also a published poet, a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and the biggest fan of Buster, his cat.

MARCELINE DUBOSE

Lead Equity Specialist

Marceline has 20 years of experience in public education as a high school social studies educator, state and federal level policy administrator, professional development leader, strategic planning consultant, and curriculum writer. Her primary focus is equity leadership development and strategic planning, working with districts to improve systems for creating equitable schools and classrooms. Marceline also provides professional development to thousands of school professionals. Ms. DuBose has served as an adjunct faculty member at Hamline University, Macalester College, and St. Mary’s University. She holds a BA in Economics from Macalester College and an Ed.M. in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard University as a Rockefeller Brothers Teaching Fellow. Also a certified yoga instructor, Marceline intentionally incorporates historical and policy perspectives, systems change theory, adult learning theory, critical reflection, and key approaches from yoga philosophy as she works toward individual, organizational and societal change that supports the full potential of all learners.

KATY SWALWELL

Lead Equity Specialist

Katy's expertise revolves around teacher activism and social justice education with a special focus on race and class issues within social studies teaching and learning. She is the author of Educating Activist Allies: Social Justice Pedagogy with the Suburban and Urban Elite, as well as several articles in magazines and journals like Teaching Tolerance and Rethinking Schools. Before becoming a teacher educator, Katy taught social studies at a public high school in Minnesota. She has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, George Mason University, and the University of Maryland--College Park. Katy currently teaches at Iowa State University.

TAHAREE JACKSON

SEEMA POTHINI

Equity Specialist

Seema's passion for creating equitable classrooms and schools drives her commitment as an advocate for underserved youth. Her extensive experience improving student success in historically underperforming schools began when she taught in Houston. She was elected Teacher of the Year in her region and appointed to the superintendent's committee to address the opportunity gap. In addition to teaching, she has worked as a K-12 cultural integration specialist and consultant, improving student outcomes by creating family, school, and community partnerships and providing staff development. Seema served as board president for Avenues for Homeless Youth and currently serves as president of the Minnesota chapter of the National Association for Multicultural Education. She is also the author of Case Studies for Equity and Social Justice Education (with Paul Gorski).

Equity Specialist

Taharee is an Assistant Professor of Minority and Urban Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership at the University of Maryland, College Park. She earned a magna cum laude B.A. from Harvard University in Psychology and Spanish, a Master of Education degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Ph.D. from Emory University. Her areas of expertise include teacher education, pedagogies for diversity and equity, inclusive schooling practices and policies, and urban education reform. Taharee is particularly interested in how members of “privileged” groups become advocates and allies for others, and the most salient factors that influence the beliefs, practices, and retention of deeply committed urban teachers. Her work racial equity work for both teachers and students has been published in Race, Ethnicity, and Education; The Poverty and Education Reader; Racism Review; and Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Watch for her forthcoming book, A Different Way to be White: Becoming Antiracist Teachers and Teacher Educators.

MICHELLE MOORE

STEM Equity Specialist

Michelle has over 12 years of experience in public education as a high school English teacher, district technology trainer, and professional development specialist. Her primary focus is ensuring all students have access to high-quality STEM experiences in and outside of the classroom by working with schools and building community partnerships. Michelle also provides professional development to school professionals ranging from classroom teachers to cabinet-level members. She is passionate about advocating for STEM equity by presenting at conferences, collaborating with organizations, and sparking discussions on social media. She holds a BS in Secondary Education-English from the University of Tampa with certification endorsements in ESOL and Reading. Michelle is particularly interested in building equity and empathy in STEM through the implementation of sustainable and scalable programs in public schools.