Focusing attention on Discipline Disparities with Dr. Pam Fenning

Teaching and Leading with Dr. Amy and Dr. Joi

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Pam Fenning about persistent discipline trends in K-12 schools. Dr. Fenning shares prominent research on implicit bias, discipline policies, and discipline disparities, particularly within the intersection of race and different abilities. Dr. Fenning provides examples from her own observations as a school psychologist and her work within educator preparation. We discuss strategies for monitoring our vulnerable decision points and the need for collaboration among school professionals when addressing students’ needs and behavior. This episode was originally released under Teaching and Learning: Theory vs Practice Season 3 Episode 15.

Referenced in this podcast:

• Illinois Legislative Black Caucus - The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, founded in 1967, stands for the progression of the African-American community by promoting education, health and welfare, minority business enterprise, job creation, consumer education and criminal justice reform.
• Sylvia Rosenfield | UMD College of Education - Professor Emerita, School Psychology, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
• Nadine Burke Harris | Speaker | TED - Nadine Burke Harris’ healthcare practice focuses on a little-understood, yet very common factor in childhood that can profoundly impact adult-onset disease: trauma.
• Russ Skiba, Indiana University Bloomington - Russell Skiba, Ph.D. is a Professor in the School Psychology program at Indiana University and Director of the Equity Project at Indiana University, a consortium of federal, state, and foundation-funded grants providing evidence to practitioners and policymakers in the areas of school violence, zero tolerance, and equity in education.
• Daniel J. Losen | National Center for Youth Law - Daniel J. Losen is the Senior Director for the Education team at the National Center for Youth Law and contributes to the organization's efforts in the area of education on behalf of all students, especially children of color and others that have historically been discriminated against. Dan's work includes promoting resource equity, the Honest Education campaign, and fighting against the school-to-prison pipeline at the national state and local levels. Dan oversees staffing for the Education Civil Rights Alliance, a National Center for Youth Law initiative that conducts research relevant to civil rights concerns, and engages in direct advocacy for systemic education reforms at the national, state, and local levels.
• Kent McIntosh | College of Education - Kent McIntosh, PhD, teaches and conducts research in the areas of positive behavior support, equity in school discipline, and sustainability of evidence-based interventions in schools. He is Director of Educational and Community Supports, a research unit in the College of Education.