Dear Friends and Division K Colleagues,
As I sit down to write the introduction to the Spring 2016 Division K newsletter, the weather in New York City is mild and sunny, perfect for the lantern festival, which marks the end of the 15-day Chinese New Year celebrations and brings the promise of spring. My lantern this year is a horse—red of course, although I did not get to eat the traditional rice flour (sweet) dumplings but had to make do with savory dumplings from a local noodle joint—ah well, one must make do as best as one can.
The promise of spring also brings the promise of AERA’s annual meeting; spring just would not be the same without the opportunity for thousands of us academics, researchers and educators to converge on a U.S. (and sometimes a Canadian) metropolis. This year that metropolis is Washington, DC—so appropriate that the 100th celebration of the organization should happen in its own headquarter city. So, we are heading toward a very special meeting and can anticipate all kinds of equally special events and sessions. In honor of the centennial, Division K is also sponsoring something different, in addition to all the great things we have all come to expect. So read on for a preview of Division K happenings at the annual meeting. Be sure to look out for:
Three invited sessions that will address pressing questions about teacher education curriculum and race; teacher education issues from an international perspective; and teaching for change in the context of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Three Division K dialogues—yes this is NEW! I am experimenting this year with dialogue spaces to encourage community, conversation, and connections across members. For years I have heard many sighs (my own included) about the absence of opportunities to just talk together about things that are mutually concerning and critically important. So I decided this year to stop sighing and start doing. The dialogue spaces are my attempt to bring members together around significant questions, discussions that are inclusive, open and each facilitated by a wise Division K member. One space is aimed at graduate students, the other two at general K membership, but of course everyone is welcome to any and all of them, including friends from across AERA.
Of course a business meeting would not be complete without a celebration of the terrific work being done by Division K members. Please join me in honoring the 2016 award winners, and thanking the award committee chairs and members who have given of their time and effort so generously. You will want especially to be in the room to cheer on our own immediate past Vice President, Etta Hollins, who is this year’s Legacy award recipient—very well deserved!
This is just a preview! Be sure to look for our newsletter that highlights all the other events and look for updates on our Facebook page and our official Tweets!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AERADivisionK/
A. Lin Goodwin Division K Vice President