Dr. Ann E. Lopez
Dr. Njoki N. Wane

Biography

Dr. Ann E. Lopez (formerly Spence) was born and raised in Jamaica and completed her undergraduate years at the University of the West Indies where she obtained a degree in Economics and Geography. After a stint in banking, she pursued her passion for education and has over 20 years of experience at all levels of education. She holds a PhD from the University of Toronto in Curriculum Studies and currently teaches at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. In addition to teaching, Dr. Lopez is the Program Coordinator for the Concurrent Teacher Education Program. She is very active in the Initial Teacher Education program and currently organizes the outreach program that seeks to encourage those who are presently underrepresented in the teaching profession to consider teaching as a career.

Dr. Lopez researches, writes and speaks on issues of social justice, equity and diversity in education. Her research and work focuses on anti-oppressive and culturally relevant teaching pedagogies. She is currently co-editing a book that focuses on teaching pedagogies that will meet the needs of diverse learners with Dr. Njoki Wane (forthcoming) entitled Teaching Teachers for Diversity and Social Justice: Pedagogy of Possibilities”. Her most recent publication is entitled Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Critical Literacy in Diverse English Classrooms. She has presented her work and research at conferences in Canada and the United States and has conducted numerous workshops with teachers on strategies to embed culturally relevant and responsive practices in their everyday work. She is the recipient of the 2011 Free for All Youth Foundation Award for her commitment and dedication to youths and credits her grandmother for setting her on a path of social justice.

Learn more about Dr. Lopez HERE.

Dr. Njoki N. Wane

Article Title

Sankofa: Grounding Ourselves in the Past; Remembering and Reconstructing Education for the Future.

Abstract

This presentation centers on the Sankofa philosophy that teaches members of a community the importance of reclaiming their past in order to re-conceptualize their future. That is, we should reach back and gather the best of what our past has to teach us, so that we can achieve our full potential as we move forward. In the last fifty years, many colonialized subjects of the Caribbean and elsewhere have struggled to create an education system that meets the needs of their citizens, and prepare them for 21st century social, economic and political realities. The quest for education as a solution to the Caribbean’s social, economic and political stability has been a preoccupation for the last fifty years. We intend in this presentation to challenge educators to think differently about ways in which the Caribbean can engage in an educative endeavor that provides positive growth. Drs. Lopez &Wane, scholars from the diaspora, will engage participants in critical dialogue on ways that education can help us to imagine the trajectory for Caribbean societies for the next 50 years. Cabral (1970) advocated the importance of going beyond the achievement of political independence and taking into consideration local realities. He suggested the return to the source (Sankofa), to re-educate and embrace one’s culture. In this presentation, we shall examine how a reassessment of the education system could lead to a reconstruction and infusion of educational paradigms centered on our ways of knowing and our history. We will focus on the following questions:

  • How can we position education to prepare our citizens for the global realities of the 21st century?
  • What can we learn from the past to guide our education endeavors for the future?

Schedule


A detailed schedule may be found HERE
Book Fair and Cultural Exhibits 12:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Keynote Reception 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Conference Opening 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm


Morning Session 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
(Includes a 10-minute coffee break)
Luncheon & Cultural Interlude 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Afternoon Sessions 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
4:15 pm - 7:00 pm
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Book Fair / Historical and Cultural Exhibits Continue 9:00 am – 5:30 pm


Morning Session 9:00 am – 11:15 am
Luncheon & Cultural Interlude 11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Afternoon Sessions 12:20 pm – 3:20 pm
3:40 pm - 5:10 pm
Book Fair / Historical and Cultural Exhibits Continue 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Closing Plenary and Cocktail Reception 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

*Plenaries will be scheduled during morning and luncheon sessions.

Persons whose papers have been accepted present on Day Two and Three of the conference.