Colleen Gannon

Colleen teaches graduate courses in literacy for Johns Hopkins University and coaches graduate students in the Urban Teachers program. She is a former middle school teacher and learning specialist, who has taught middle school ELA, reading, and math. She holds a masters of education degree from the University of Notre Dame and is currently working on her Ph.D. in teacher education and professional development at the University of Maryland, College Park.

At the university level, Colleen has taught secondary English education courses and middle school methods courses at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her dissertation research centers on how teachers can initiate and maintain productive student-relationship with Black boys in order to leverage those relationships to promote learning. She is also working on various research projects that address how self-study, critical friendship, and professional learning communities can support the development of novice teacher educators.

South Holden

South is a former elementary school teacher, who taught a multi-age Kindergarten through 2nd grade classroom in Cleveland, Ohio. He holds a masters of teaching degree from the University of Virginia and is currently working on his Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Social Inquiry at the University of Maryland, College Park. 

At the university level, South has supervised preservice teachers and taught methods courses in the elementary program. His dissertation research centers on the development of doctoral students as teacher educators-understanding their experiences, challenges, and supports. His other research interests include professional learning communities, problems of practice, reflection, culturally responsive teaching and leadership structures. When he is not thinking about teacher education, he spends his time hiking, cooking, and playing with his daughter-Annika and dog-Wanda. 

Jennifer Burris

Jennifer is a doctoral student at the University of Maryland, studying Minority and Urban Education in the Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership program. Jennifer is a former high school math teacher, and has an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Teaching from the University of Central Oklahoma and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Southern Nazarene University.

At the university level, Jennifer has taught Embracing Diversity in Classroom Communities and Historical and Philosophical Perspectives of Education. Her research interests include multicultural education, critical race theory, teacher education, and administrator preparation. You can find more about her work at https://burrisbelieves.com/ @jburris8

Olivia Murphy