Leading California Educator to Debate Ebonics on KPCC 98.3 FM

Leading California Educator to Debate Ebonics on KPCC 98.3 FM

Dr. Sharroky Hollie From The Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching and

Learning Will Join Other Guests to Discuss the Misinformation About Ebonics;

Debate Will Include Discussion About Effective Teaching Techniques and Other

Learning Methods for African American Students.

WHAT: Sharroky Hollie, Ph.D., a professor in teacher education, and the executive director and chief instructional officer for the Los Angeles-based Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning (CCRTL) will appear on "Talk of the City" with Kitty Felde on KPCC 89.3 FM. Talk of the City is a one-hour magazine show known for its in-depth explorations of local politics and culture, as well as its coverage of national and world news.

Linguistic Professor Walt Wolfram and Ebonics Foe Michael King of Project 21 will join Dr. Hollie to discuss the recent debate surrounding the new proposed cultural responsive teaching curriculum for San Bernardino schools. According to Dr. Hollie, culturally responsive teaching is inaccurately tied to the Ebonics controversy of 1996. Dr. Hollie plans to dispel this myth and show how culturally responsive teaching and learning reaches students considered underachievers. Culturally responsive teaching is designed to validate each and every student by affirming the students' home language and culture. Backed by test scores and other academic leaders, the CCRTL approach is considered a nationwide success.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 3, 2005; 2-3pm

WHERE: "Talk of the City" with Kitty Felde on KPCC 89.3 FM. KPCC is a public radio station that broadcasts throughout Southern California.

WHO: Dr. Hollie is the executive director and chief instructional officer for the CCRTL and travels the country educating teachers and administrators. Dr. Hollie is an assistant professor in teacher education at California State University Dominguez Hills. With more than 13 years as an academic, Dr. Hollie also serves as the chief instructional advocate and co-founder for the Los Angeles-based Culture and Language Academy of Success (CLAS), a charter school where the principles of the CCRTL are applied daily. CLAS's 2004 API CLAS is 777, which is among the highest in LAUSD and the nation for schools serving predominately Title I students. Dr. Hollie has served as a literacy consultant for the California Department of Education and his work has been published in journals such as English Journal and Academic Exchange Quarterly.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING: The Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning (CCRTL) is a non-profit professional development organization created to educate teachers in culturally and linguistically responsive instructional strategies. CCRTL's method of culturally responsive teaching is designed to validate each and every student and their culture in a shame-free environment. CCRTL-trained instructors educate students, most often African-American or Latino, by validating and affirming the students' home language and culture, while also teaching societal language requirements to help them effectively communicate in a variety of environments. In addition, CCRTL-Certified instructors learn to supplement curriculum with instruction in visual and performing arts, Spanish-language learning, physical education and technology.

Educators who complete CCRTL's 12-month program receive a CCRTL Certification, which helps to address training requirements under the "No Child Left Behind Act" that requires public schools receiving Title I funds to have a "highly qualified" teacher in every classroom.

PRNewswire -- Aug. 3

Source: The Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning

CONTACT: Amy Goldsmith, +1-310-440-0646,agoldsmith@gkcommunications.net, or Beth Laski, +1-818-986-1105, bethlaski@adelphia.net, both of GK Communications for The Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning

------- Profile: Ent