Teaching for Change: Voices of Empowerment and Transformation, written for pre-service and in-service teachers, grew out of the inspiration derived from graduate students in a multicultural literature course that Dr. Landis taught at Eastern University for several years.  The theoretical framework of Culturally Responsive Teaching and Reader Response Theories provided an environment for lively stories of self-empowerment to emerge within class discussions and powerful student writing, arising from teachers working against the odds and resolving not to quit.  Numerous teachers reflected on how their voices had been silenced by educational mandates, trends and scripts, noting countless urban students and their parents who saw little relevance to the schooling process.  Aiming to keep hope alive, these graduate students infused life into their dreams to teach for change.
 
"Eastern University's mission statement that integrates faith, reason and justice provided a platform for me to continue pursuit of my passion to teach for literacy justice," said Dr. Landis.  "During the last four years, I kept discovering graduate students in my courses who claimed their own voice, validation and vision.  Teachers who recognized their own self-empowerment and transformation went on to work for the empowerment of their students, and in some cases their students wanted to help empower others, thus creating a domino effect.  Four of the chapters in the book were written by former M.Ed. students at Eastern University who were invited to tell their stories."

Dr. Landis wrote the book to inspire educators to teach for change by centering the voices of urban teachers, principals, parents and students who are often silenced in reform initiatives. African American urban parents present their "insider" perspectives of culturally responsive teaching, "highly qualified" effective teachers and white teachers. The book also includes a case study of how an urban principal and her teachers constructed school success over a two-year period. In this case study, African American students present their literacy perspectives helping to shatter deficit stereotypes. Themes emerging from the research included stories of student success, as well as issues of race, culture and home literacies. Additionally, the book features culturally responsive lesson plans that have been effectively used with middle and high school students.

Dr. Landis, who has been with Eastern University since 2004, earned her B.A. in elementary education from the University of North Carolina, M.A. in reading from the University of Michigan, and Ed.D. in reading/writing/literacy from the University of Pennsylvania.  In addition to teaching courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels in reading, Dr. Landis serves as counselor to the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society.

Teaching for Change: Voices of Empowerment and Transformation can be purchased through Barnes and Noble at http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Teaching-For-Change-Voices-Of-Empowerment-And-Transformation/Jean-M-Landis/e/9780981726434/?itm=1