Centering CRSE

Foster equity, engagement, and belonging

Build student-centered spaces that prioritize inclusion and affirm the cultural richness of all learners.

Section divider type: waves -- position: bottom

Find answers to more essential questions by checking out our FAQ.

What You'll Learn

Student identities are often undervalued — make space for every learner’s voice and affirm their personal journey.

Key takeaways

Empower students to express their cultural and personal identities through purposeful instructional strategies
Adapt your curriculum to be inclusive and reflective of your students’ diverse experiences and needs
Deepen your knowledge of identity components and integrate them into your teaching and planning
Foster emotionally safe classroom environments that build trust and support meaningful connections
Strengthen relationships with students by understanding their unique lives, backgrounds, and identities

Welcome & affirm students

Educators around the globe understand the urgent need to develop schools and classrooms that are equitable, and teaching practices that engage and celebrate all students. In the United States, Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CRSE) has become a national buzzword, a call to action and, in some places, a mandate.

Adopt equitable practices

Adopting CRSE has the potential to transform how students engage with their learning. By affirming racial, linguistic, and cultural identities, you can elevate voices that have been historically silenced and foster a deeper connection to academic rigor and independent thinking.

Apply inclusive instruction

Throughout this course, you'll examine practical methods for incorporating CRSE into your everyday practice and receive actionable steps to make culturally responsive practices approachable and impactful, ensuring students feel seen, heard, and equipped to thrive in today’s complex world.

What Educators Are Saying

Join K-12 educators from around the world in creating meaningful change in your classroom and community.

Schedule and Topics

This course is open for participation from February 24 to May 5, 2025, with new topics opening at regular intervals. While you can move through the course at your own pace, we find that 2 hours per topic works best for most participants.

Course begins

Participants who are registered prior to the course start date will receive course login details by February 24, when participation begins. For more information on access and participation, please visit our FAQ page.

Preview an introductory video from the course:

Topic 1

Centering Students
Celebrate students' identities and interests through relevant, real-world curriculum connections and choices.

Topic 2

Centering Cultural Representation & Rejecting Oppression
Reflect student and community culture in curriculum and instruction, as well as exposure to diversity through the representation within texts, media, and contexts.

Topic 3

Centering Cultural Communication & Connection
Explore ways to explicitly value diverse language practices in your instruction, regularly connect school to family, and create opportunities for students to exercise voice and agency in their education.

Course ends

Course participation ends and assignments close on April 21. During the two weeks after this date, final grades and certificates will be processed.

Section divider type: waves -- position: bottom

Meet Your Facilitator

Courtney Brown

Courtney's work is informed by her range of experiences as a high school and middle school teacher of English and the humanities. Grounded in the philosophies of project-based learning and literacy across the disciplines, Courtney supports school leaders and teachers as they develop culturally relevant curriculum and practices in order to enable students and schools to thrive and achieve their potential. Currently, her work includes a focus on developing PLCs and school-wide practices to support struggling schools to leverage mandates and build on their strengths. Courtney has presented workshops for school districts, the Student Press Initiative, AERA, ATE, the Global learning Alliance, and the National Council of Teachers of English Convention, and currently leads the New Teacher Network.

"It can take courage to imagine new practices, but we must rethink our notions of fairness and develop practices that are equitable for the students in our care."

anchor: twskregister

Take Your Next Steps

This opportunity is designed for K-12 educators to grow independently, or as part of a team. Still have questions? Check out our FAQ page, or contact us at [email protected]. We look forward to working alongside you!