Sarah E. Dennis, Ph.D.
Teacher & Family Educator, Coach, Tutor & Author
About Us
Biography:
I grew up in Chicago, attending a Chicago Public Magnet school that attracted children from diverse racial, ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds near the Cabrini Green Housing Project in the mid-late 80s/early 90s. From the young age of about 10, I was inspired to become an engaging educator committed to social justice to help turn children on to the love of learning and reading, and work towards changing the inequities in many of the systems in the United States. Also from the age of 10, I was a proud member of the Chicago Children's Choir, a multi-cultural, multi-racial, secular city-wide organization committed to inclusion and celebration of diversity. My experiences at my elementary school and choir helped shape my committment to social justice.
After attending New York University for a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education and then teaching preschool/Kindergarten, 3rd, 4th and 5th grades at public schools in New York City, I began coaching and mentoring preschool teachers in the Best Practices in Early Literacy Project, which led to two multi-million dollar Early Reading First projects (2002-'05 & 2005-'08). During these years, I earned a Masters in Literacy Education (2005) and a doctorate in Early Childhood (2008) from New York University. In 2007 I was awarded the Leaska Dissertation Research Award ($5K) for my study: “Reexamining Quality in Early Childhood Education: Exploring the Relationship Between the Work Environment and the Classroom.” In 2014, my first published article "Re-examining Quality in Early Childhood Education: Exploring the Relationship Between the Organizational Climate and the Classroom" received the Association for Childhood Education International's Distinguished Education Research Article Award.
I have presented at many dozens of conferences nationally including the National Head Start Research Conference in Washington D.C. (2002, '04, '06 & '08), NAEYC's Professional Development Institute (Pittsburg, 2007; Indianapolis, 2012), NIEER's Conference (2002), the Early Reading First Grantees Meeting (2004 in AZ, 2005 in FL, 2007 in CA), the Illinois Reading Council Conference (Springfield, 2011-2014), and many dozens more. I have provided professional development and coaching to many hundreds of teachers and coaches in NYC and Chicago. In addition, I have also assessed and tutored children (Kindergarten-HS) for over 20 years.
I am the founder and co-leader of the Illinois Chapter of NAME (a state chapter of the National Association for Multicultural Education: Advancing and Advocating for Social Justice & Equity), and have also founded and co-lead Families for Racial Justice Chicago. In Feb 2017, I participated as part of a panel on anti-racism for the Quentin B. Young Equity Project (see photo below), and on Nov 9, 2017 I organized and helped facilitate a panel on the Reparations Won Curriculum for 8th & 10th grades in Chicago Public Schools (see photo). I have recently provided professional development on Equity in Early Childhood, and on Microagressions in Evanston, IL. I have participated in many trainings with the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond and CROAR (Chicago Regional Organizing for Anti-Racism), and am involved with SURJ Chicago (Showing Up for Racial Justice).
I hope to hear from you soon to see how I can support your work to inspire the children and teachers/leaders of the next generation!
Nov 9, 2017 - I helped organize and facilitate a Teach-In about the CPS Reparations Won Curriculum - co-sponsored by Families for Racial Justice Chicago (FRJC) and NAME Illinois
