Dorothy M. Steele, Ed.D. (1945-2017) was the former Executive Director of the Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity at Stanford University. She was an early childhood educator interested in public schools including teaching practices that are effective for diverse classrooms, alternative assessment processes that inform teaching and learning, and strategies that build inclusive communities of learners in schools. Her work with the Stanford Integrated Schools Project was an attempt to look at these various aspects of schooling in a large urban school district.
Dr. Steele began her work with teachers and children in 1968 in Columbus, OH as the Director/Teacher of one of the city’s first Head Start Programs. During the 1970’s, she served as the Curriculum Coordinator for the City of Seattle’s Children’s Programs, an early childhood teacher educator, a parent educator, and, for eight years, the director of a large, university-based child care center.
In 1987, Dr. Steele began her doctoral work in early childhood education and, with her advisor, developed an alternative assessment process for early childhood education, the Work Sampling System that is being used throughout the world. Her dissertation explored the negative impact of standardized tests on Kindergarten teachers’ educational decisions for their students.
Dorothy Steele received her AB degree in music from Hiram College, Hiram, OH in 1967; the MA in Early Childhood Education from the Ohio State University in 1971; and an Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Michigan in 1994.
Dr. Becki Cohn-Vargas is a leading scholar in identity safety, recognized for her roles as a school leader, curriculum specialist, and consultant. With a rich and varied career spanning over 35 years, she has significantly contributed as a Spanish bilingual teacher, principal, curriculum director, and superintendent in diverse rural, urban, and suburban pre-K-12 educational settings. She has worked in more than 150 schools across the U.S., leading strategic planning sessions and workshops. Dr. Cohn-Vargas co-authored the best-selling book "Identity Safe Classrooms K-5: Places to Belong and Learn," and "Identity Safe Classrooms Grades 6-12: Pathways to Belonging and Learning," and "Belonging and Inclusion in Identity Safe Schools: A Guide for Educational Leaders" and “Identity Safe Spaces: Partnering to Overcome Inequity.” Her literary contributions also include book chapters, numerous articles, and the notable film "Our Family: A Film About Family Diversity," reflecting her commitment to promoting inclusive educational environments.
