Testimonios: A Critical Component of Decolonizing the U.S. Classroom with Dr. José Medina
Paulo Freire, author of Pedagogy of the Oppressed, defines critical consciousness as the ability to intervene in reality as a means to change it, with a focus on equity and social justice. Unfortunately, for students belonging to Black, Indigenous, Communities of Color, this has never been the reality in a school system that has continuously marginalized them in the U.S. classroom. A critical consciousness journey begins with testimonio work. By understanding what privilege we carry, what biases we have, how we exist and function in the world, and how best to use our privilege to serve others, educators and students alike, can continue to be critically self-reflective. Participants in this session, through the use of children's testimonio poetry, will engage in activities that can begin the decolonization of the status quo in most U.S. educational settings.
Jose Medina
Dr. José L. Medina is the founder and Chief Educational Advocate at Dr. José Medina: Educational Solutions. Prior to establishing the boutique educational consulting firm, Dr. Medina was the Director of Languages and Culture at the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) in Washington, DC. José provides dual language technical assistance, professional development, and job-embedded support to dual language programs across the United States and globally. He is a former dual language school principal and has served as an administrator and educator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Dr. Medina is a co-author of the third edition of the widely used Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education. He has also authored three bilingual children’s poetry books focused on his testimonio.