Making Social Justice Relevant in School

Join us on Wednesday, May 19 @ 6pm EST for an informative talk with Principal, Dr. Dawn Brooks DeCosta, and 5th grade teacher, Ms. Lucile Middleton, of Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School (TMALS) to discuss how their students have engaged in conversations regarding the recent justice issues in our nation. Located in Harlem, TMALS was created in a collaboration between Abyssinian Development Corporation, New Visions for Public Schools and The Department of Education and is the perfect example of how to bring the world into the classroom.  

Dawn began her service of teaching 27 years ago and has worked as a teacher for the NYC DOE teaching in Harlem, NYC for 16 years and has served as Principal of TMALS for the past 9 years. Dawn has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work such as Teacher of the Year 1998, Heroes of Education Award 2002 for her work with students involving the 9/11 tragedy (highlighted in CNN’s, Through a Child’s Eyes), Outstanding Educator 2002, along with many others. 

Lucile, affectionately known as Ms. Lucy, is a committed teacher with over 20 years of experience.  She is currently serving as a teacher at TMALS, teaching Literacy, Writing, Social Studies, and Technology to the Fifth Grade. As a progressive educator, she believes that education is the tool to help students formulate their voice; to develop their own personal philosophy; and to gather the fundamentals and skills so they may change the world around them.