Dr Ann Lopez

Teaching and Leading in a Globalized World: Towards Educative Action Grounded in Care, Empathy, and Justice

We are living in challenging times that call for greater understanding and action among global citizens to sustain a world where all can flourish. Educators have an important role to play at this critical juncture. The times we are living in, while presenting challenges, also present possibilities for educators to prepare citizens who are committed to human freedom, and who are willing act to make the world more humane and just. In this effort it is important that educators at all levels develop a vision and deep commitment to values such as care, empathy, and justice. We are truly at an inflection point globally where taken-for-granted norms and relationships are being questioned and reframed. Actions taken today will have consequences for the future. Educators no matter their context cannot sit on the side lines, but must build solidarities across spaces and boundaries, and take action to create the world they wish to see.

The theme of the ICSEI Conference of crossing boundaries, fostering innovative, inclusive, and sustainable learning environments is timely given the moment and inflection point that we find ourselves in globally. Educators must ask critical questions on ways to prepare students to work across boundaries and contexts that do not reinforce hegemonic relationships, but instead build lasting, respectful relationships. They must ask questions on the meaning of school improvement and effectiveness, what should be centred and decentred, what should be the focus of actions and initiatives, and the role of school leaders and all who are engaged in education. I argue in this keynote that this will require intentional actions from educators that centre humanity, care, and empathy. James Baldwin novelist, essayist, poet, and social critic in a “Talk to Teachers” in 1963 suggested that the purpose of education “is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make his own decisions…to ask questions of the universe, and then learn to live with those questions”. Educators must act with intentionality and engage in practices that will create lasting, sustainable, and transformative change.

Dr Ann Lopez is a Jamaican born professor of educational leadership and policy at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto, Canada. A former public school teacher and administrator she is a leading voice and scholar on anti-racist, decolonizing and equity education in K-12 schooling. She is the Director of the Center for Leadership and Diversity, Co-Director Centre for Black Studies in Education, and Provostial Advisor, Access Programs. Dr. Lopez has recently been appointed as Professor Extraordinarius at UNISA, South Africa and Visiting Professor Kwame Nkrumah University, Zambia. She is a teacher educator and held the position of Academic Director, Initial Teacher Education at OISE/UT. Her recent research projects have focused on school leadership in Canada, Jamaica, Kenya, Ghana and Zambia where she collaborates with local scholars. Dr. Lopez is the author of several journal articles and books including her most recent book entitled, Decolonizing Educational Leadership: Alternative Approach to Leading Schools. Professor Lopez is co-Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of School Leadership and Co-Series Editor, Studies in Educational Administration. 

Reference:

Baldwin, J. (1963). A talk to teachers. The Saturday Review. December