Biography
Bonnie M. Davis, Ph.D., believes in educating for change. As a best-selling author, award-winning teacher, presenter, and educator with 30+ years of experience in public schools, alternative settings, and universities, Bonnie teaches educators how to reflect upon and examine their cultural lens in order to strengthen their classroom instruction and build relationships with students “who don’t look like them.” Convinced that long-term, ongoing professional development is at the heart of change, Bonnie consults with districts to develop Equity Teams using a Peer Observation Model and framework she designed--The Six Steps for Equity in Classroom Instruction. In addition, her books How to Teach Students Who Don’t Look Like You: Culturally Relevant Teaching Strategies; How to Coach Teachers Who Don’t Think Like You: Using Literacy Strategies to Coach Across Content Areas, (2007); and The Biracial and Multiracial Student Experience: A Journey to Racial Literacy (2009) are used to support district work.For 30 years, Bonnie taught English in middle schools, high schools, universities, homeless shelters, and a men's prison. She is the recipient of several awards, including The Teacher of the Year in two districts, The Governor's Award for Teaching Excellence, and The Anti-Defamation League’s World of Difference Community Service Award and the Delta Kappa Gamma Outstanding Educator Award. Bonnie holds a Ph.D. in English from Saint Louis University. She has presented at the national level for Learning Forward (formerly NSDC), Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, National Education Association, National Council for Teachers of English, National Association of Multicultural Education, and International Reading Association, among others. Her publications include African-American Academic Achievement: Building a Classroom of Excellence (2001) and numerous articles on literacy and cultural instruction, such as A Cultural Safari, a National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Paul Farmer Writing Award winner. She appears in The School Improvement Network’s video program, No Excuses! How to Increase Minority Student Achievement (2006), along with experts James Comer, Kati Haycock, Sonia Nieto, Beverly Tatum, and others. Her recent writings include “Respect,” Chapter One of Leadership for Social Justice and Democracy in Our Schools (2011); Foreward, Equity 101 (2011); Culturally Proficient Student Engagement (2011); and Foreward, Culturally Considerate Counseling: Helping Without Bias (2010). In addition, she is currently coauthoring, along with Curtis Linton, a multi-book series, Equity 101, to showcase schools that have closed their racial disparity gaps and Creating Culturally Considerate Schools: Educating Without Bias with Kim Anderson.Bonnie directs the Educating for Change Cadre, a group of committed educators that includes authors Kim Anderson and Mary Kim Schreck, and educators Dorothy Kelly, and Nan Starling. Bonnie now spends her professional life presenting to and coaching educators and writing professional articles and books. Because she spent 30 years in the classroom, she considers herself first a teacher and she relates to staffs in a lively, interactive manner. When she works with educators, Bonnie is passionate, funny, and energetic, modeling for staff instructional and relationship strategies to improve instruction. After five years in the California, she returned home to the Midwest in 2010 and is available for keynotes, presentations, workshops, and consultation.Bonnie is the mother of two multiracial adult children, Leah and Reeve, and the grandmother of one granddaughter, Eva Salome Alvarez Davis.
CV
Bonnie M. Davis, Ph.D.Educational Consultant and AuthorEducation:1996 Post-doctoral, English, Washington University1989 Ph.D., English, St. Louis University; DissertationA Rationale for the Reconstruction of the American Literary Canon1975 M.A.I., Media/Communication/Film Criticism, Webster University1971 M.A., English, University of Mississippi; ThesisThe Senses in the Works of William Faulkner1967 B.S. in Education, cum laude, Southeast Missouri State UniversityOccupational History:2001-11 Author, Consultant, Literacy Coach for districts across the U.S.1997-07 Cooperating School Districts, Program Planner/Facilitator2004-06 Adjunct Instructor, Fontbonne University, The Culturally Diverse Learner2003 Adjunct Instructor, University of MO-St. Louis, The Impact of Poverty upon Learning2003-06 Adjunct Instructor, Webster University, Building a Classroom of Excellence1991-97 English Instructor, Clayton School District1994 Adjunct Instructor, St. Louis University, English Methods Class; Reading Across the Curriculum1989-93 English Instructor, Missouri Eastern Correctional Center (maximum security mens prison)1978-93 Adjunct English Instructor, St. Louis Community College at Meramec, St. Louis, MO1989-91 Staff Development Teacher, Mehlville School District, St. Louis, MO1987-91 Consultant, Court-appointed Desegregation Monitoring Committee, St. Louis, MO1992-97 Co-Director of the Clayton Writing Project, Clayton School District1988-92 Facilitator, A World of Difference Program1986-92 Educational Consultant, Midwest Desegregation Assistance Center1979-85 Manager, Waitress, Bookkeeper, Bartender, Emanuels Restaurant and Catering1967-89 English Teacher, Mehlville School District, St. Louis, MO1969-70 Home Tutor, Special School District of St. Louis County, St. Louis, MO1959-66 Piano Teacher, Cape Girardeau, MOBooks, Articles, Publications:2011 "Respect", Chapter One of Leadership for Social Justice and Democracy in Our Schools, Corwin Press2011 Foreward, Equity 101, Corwin Press2010 "Culturally Proficient Student Engagement," Chapter published in You Have to Reach Them to Teach Them, Solution Tree2010 Foreward, Culturally Caring Counseling: Helping Without Bias, Corwin Press.2009 The Biracial and Multiracial Student Experience: A Journey to Racial Literacy, Corwin Press2009 Facilitators Guide: How to Teach Students Who Dont Look Like You, Corwin Press2007 How to Coach Teachers Who Dont Think Like You: Using Literacy Strategies to Coach Across Content Areas, Corwin Press 2007 No Excuses! How to Improve Minority Achievement, The School Improvement Network PD360/Video Series2006 How to Teach Students Who Dont Look Like You MNEAs Something Better, Cover Article2006 How to Teach Students Who Don't Look Like You: Culturally Relevant Teaching Strategies, Corwin Press: Thousand Oaks, CA2004 Closing the Gap: Building a Classroom of Excellence2002 African-American Academic Achievement: Building A Classroom of Excellence2001Women in Faulkner, entry in The 2000 William Faulkner Encyclopedia1998 African American Academic Achievement, IEC Newsletter1999 MOHum, The Missouri Humanities Program, IEC Newletter1997 "Radio Raincoat Man," short story published in 100 Words, University of Iowa1997 Book Review, Bird by Bird, Teacher Magazine1996 Writing Across the Ages, English Journal, January, 19961995 Three articles in The Clayton Quarterly, education journal, Clayton School District1994 "A Cultural Safari: Dispelling Myths and Creating Connections Through Multicultural and International Education," English Journal, February, 19941993 Multicultural Perspectives, Consultant and Reviewer, McDougal-Littell, c. 19931993 Contemporary Short Stories for High School Students, Consultant and Reviewer, 1993 Immigration/Black Migration Curriculum, Hitachi Foundation1991 "The MSD Connection," International Education Consortium Newsletter1990 "The Forder Writing Day," Education St. Louis1990 Freedom Rising, Viewer Guide to video production, Editor and co-author1990 "Words of Freedom from the Men Within," Editor, literary magazine, Missouri1989 Internationalizing the English Curriculum," English Journal, NCTE, October 1989 "Africa: Words and Images," Writing consultant and co-editor, SLPS1989 Consultant and co-author, Contemporary World Literature course, Mehlville School District1988 St. Martin's Guide to Writing, Consultant, Heinemann Press, c. 19881988 A World of Difference, co-author of "Black History of the St. Louis Area," c. 19881986 "Africa: A Curriculum," Mehlville School District, St. Louis, MO1985 BEST Local Objectives Activity Packets, Mehlville School District1984 English Curriculum, accepted as model curriculum by ERIC, Mehlville School District1978 Elective courses: Multi-Ethnic Literature; Science Fiction Literature; Modern Poetry Grants and Awards:2010 Recipient of Outstanding Educator Award, Delta Kappa Gamma, CA2009 Nominee for Professional and Scholarly Excellence Book of the Year (PROSE Award)2008 Courageous Conversation Summit Award2008 NSDC Nominee for Book of the Year2007 Missouri Humanities Grant from DESE through RPDC/CSD, St. Louis, MO1997 Teacher of the Year for Service above Self, Clayton Rotary Club1996 Grant for The Four A's Club: African-American Academic Achievers; $5,000.001994 National NCTE Farmer Writing Award for article published in English Journal1993 Grant for hookup and expenses for Breadnet, Breadloaf, Middlebury College, Vermont1990 Most Distinguished Teacher Award, University of Missouri Honors College1990 Most Distinguished Teacher Award, St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri1989 A World of Difference Community Service Award1989 Who's Who in American Education1989 Middle School Writing Grant, Danforth Foundation, St. Louis Public Schools1989 Subject for article, Education Week, "Feeding the Hunger 'For Intellectual Growth1988 Recipient of the first Robert D. Elsea Award for Outstanding Teaching1988 Teacher of the Year, Mehlville School District, St. Louis, MO1988 Subject of Kappan article, "A Blueprint for Empowering Teachers1987 International Education Consortium, $2,000.00 grant for global education materials1987 VICC, $1,180.00 grant for multicultural ed. project, Seattle, WA1986 Governor's Award for Excellence in Education1986 National Endowment for the Humanities Grant, $2,800.00 for proposal "The Influence of African Literature Upon the Contemporary Afro-American Writer"; Senegal, Africa1986 International Education Consortium Grant for summer travel to Senegal, Africa1985 NEH Grant, $2,350.00, "William Faulkner, University of MississippiPresentations and Speaking Engagements:National:2011 SINET Technology Summit, Featured Speaker, Salt Lake City, UT2011 Minority Student Achievement Network, Keynote, Chapel Hill, NC2010 Learning Forward, Atlanta, GA2009 Courageous Conversations about Race, MD 2009 Minority Student Achievement Network, Keynote, MI2009 Summit of the Minds, Keynote, TX2009 National Staff Development Preconference, MO2009 Character Ed Conference, Featured Speaker, MO2008 National Staff Development, DC2008 International Reading Association, AZ 2008 Courageous Conversations about Race Summit, LA2007 National Staff Development Council, Dallas, TX2007 Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, Anaheim, CA2007 Character Education Conference, featured speaker, St. Louis, MO2006 National Association of Multicultural Education, Phoenix, AZ2006 National Staff Development Council, Nashville, TN2005 National Staff Development Council, Philadelphia2004 National Staff Development Council, Vancouver, CA2004 Dealing with Diversity Institute, Western IL U., Featured Speaker2004 National Character Education Conference, Featured Speaker, Pre-Session2003 National Staff Development ConferenceFacilitated for Glenn Singleton2003 National Character Education ConferenceFeatured Speaker2002 National Character Education Conference2001 National Character Education Conference, AAAA Models2000 African-American Academic Achievement, NCTE, Milwaukee, WI2000 National Association of Multicultural Ed (NAME), AAAA Models, Nebraska2000 NCTE Fall Convention, Reading Achievement, Denver, Colorado1999 Inclusion Conference, Achievement Models, St. Louis, MO1998 NCTE Fall Convention, African Literature, Nashville, TN1997 American Literature Association, Violence Against Women, San Antonio, TX1996 NCTE Fall Convention, Multicultural Literature in the Middle School Classroom, Chicago1996 National Women's Studies Conference, Panel on Violence, Skidmore College, NY1995 NCTE Fall Convention, Multicultural Literature, Orlando, Florida1994 International Literature, A Conversation with IEC Teachers, NCTE, Portland, OR1992 A Rationale for the Reconstruction of the American Literary Canon, NCTE, Louisville, KY1991 Keynote Speaker, The Changing Paradigms of Literature, San Francisco, CA1991 Combating Racism in the Workplace, MLA, Chicago, IL1991 Training the Trainers, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, IL1990 Multicultural Women in Literature, Manhattan, KS1990 The Necessity of International Education for Engineering Students, Manhattan, KS1990 Using International Literature in the Classroom, Colorado Springs, CO1989 Internationalizing the Curriculum, Baltimore, Maryland1988 African Literature as a Model for the Teaching of Writing, Boston, MA1988 Using African Literature in the YA Literary Canon, National NCTE Fall Convention1988 Integrating Multicultural and International Education, The Am. Forum on Ed., St. Louis1987 Using African Literature Across the High School Curriculum, Cornell University, NY1987 Restoring the History of the Afro-American Through the Humanities, Louisville, KYState:2011 Write to Learn, Lake of the Ozarks, MO2011 WMEP PD, Minniapolis, MN2010 20+ State Presentations in 12 states2010 MO IRA, Keynote2009 West Metro Community College System, Keynote, MN2009 Kyrene School District, AZ2009 McKinney School District, TX2009 Hillsborough School District, NC2009 Richland School District, SC2009 Palmdale School District, CA2009 Chapel Hill/Carroboro School District, NC2009 Austin School District, MN2007 ELL Conference, Keynote Speaker, Jacksonville, Florida2007 Featured speaker, Omaha Public Schools fall conference2007 Keynote, Barrington High School, Barrington, IL2007 Keynote, Loudon County School District, Loudon County, VA2007 Opening Day speaker, Worcester County, Ocean City, MD2007 Teaching and Learning Conference, Featured Speaker, Gaston County, North Carolina2007 NAME Conference, Keynote Speaker, Salisbury, Maryland2007 New Teachers, LA Unified, spring and summer2007 Multiple other presentations for school districts across the U.S.2006 Cultural Competence Conference, Featured Speaker, Omaha, Nebraska2005 Keynote: CharacterPlus Fall Conference2005 Featured Speaker: PreConference MNEA, St. Louis2005 Keynote: Division of Youth Services Literacy Conference2005 Keynote: Home Health Services State Conference2005 Write to Learn: Literacy Conference2004 Write to Learn Conference2003 Show-Me Conference; Pathways Conference; Write to Learn Conference2002 Keynote Speaker: Missouri State Teachers Associate, Education Conference2002 Write to Learn Conference2001 Show-Me ConferenceMissouri Humanities Model Accelerated Schools ConferenceLiteracy Models2000 Show-Me ConferenceAfrican-American Academic Achievement Models Pathways to SuccessAfrican-American Academic Achievement Models1999 Show-Me ConferenceMOHum, Missouri Humanities Grant1998Midwest Equity CenterFour state Conference, Minority Achievement1998 Missouri Staff Development Conference, Interdisciplinary Teams1997 Young Womens Leadership Conference, UMSL1993Basic Education Training, MO State Dept. Training1991 Challenging the Literary Canon, Missouri Humanities Council, Columbia, MO1991 Using Writing with Staff for Professional Development, DESE Conference, MO1991 Women in Literature, Gamma Delta Gamma Fall Conference1991Coaches on Call, on-going multicultural workshop, NETWORK, St. Louis, MO1990 The Socialization of the Culturally Diverse Child, DESE, MO State Dept. Conference1989 Integrating Human Rights into the English Curriculum, NEA State Convention1989 Global Awareness in the School System, NEA State Convention1987 Using Multicultural Materials to Facilitate Harmony Among Staff and Students, KCVolunteer Occupational History:2009 Classroom Volunteer, Heroes Elementary School, Santa Ana, CA2007 Womens Writing Groups, Irvine, CA2003 Mentor, Webster Groves High School2001 Writing teacher, Maplewood-Richmond Heights Community Center2000 Writing teacher, Covenant House, Homeless shelter for 17-21 year old drop-outs1996-97 Writing teacher, Christian Service Center, Womens Homeless ShelterMemberships: ASCD, Learning Forward, NCTE, Delta Kappa Gamma, Phi Delta Kappa
Workshops
WORKSHOPS OFFERED BY BONNIE M. DAVISHow to Teach Students Who Dont Look Like You: Culturally Relevant Teaching Strategies is a workshop based on the book by the same name. This workshop seeks to change both attitudes and behaviors. During the workshop, educators engage in deep, reflective, courageous work for three days by completing the entire workbook, writing and sharing their racial histories, and engaging in courageous conversations facilitated by Bonnie Davis or a member of the Educating for Change Cadre. This experience builds a community of trust on which to build future equity work while giving staff a repertoire of culturally responsive strategies to use during the school year. Designed for K-12 educators, this workshop is a good place to challenge in a positive way the ideology of teachers who may have been resistant to former equity work. Since the workshop is interactive and educators leave armed with a wide variety of new culturally responsive strategies, this workshop is continually praised by teachers as their favorite workshop experience. Staff can often earn 1-2 university credit hours for the workshop. This workshop can also be offered as a three-day experience scheduled throughout the school year. The Biracial and Multiracial Student Experience: A Journey to Racial Literacy A half-day or full-day workshop based on Bonnie's book, The Biracial and Multiracial Student Experience: A Journey to Racial Literacy. This is an awareness workshop for staff at all levels, including administration, to introduce them to the racial development theories and the needs of multiracial students, needs that are both similar to other children of color and those needs unique to racially mixed children. This is an important workshop too often overlooked by educators until there is a crisis in the district that warrants their learning about the particular needs of racially mixed students. This can be presented at any time throughout the school year.How to Coach Teachers Who Dont Look Like You: Using Literacy Strategies to Coach Across Content AreasThis workshop trains district coaches or those entering coaching roles as well as administrators to support them in learning how to observe and give feedback to classroom teachers. It includes specific information on body language and cultural aspects not covered in other coaching training. Included are frameworks for observations and feedback as well as tools for PLCs to use in examining student work. This workshop is offered in a half day, one day, or multi-day format.Six Steps for Equity in Classroom InstructionA one-day to three-day workshop for teachers, administration, and coaches that gives educators a framework for embedding equity in classroom instruction. This is used to build Peer Observation/Feedback Equity Teams to institutionalize culturally responsive teaching throughout the school and district. After the initial workshop is presented, Bonnie or a Cadre Member continues with support throughout the year using online webinars, blogs, emails as well as person to person follow-up coaching.
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