Code Red: Conversations and Solutions for an Educational System in Crisis

In schools, a Code Red alert indicates a potential or immediate threat within a building or on a campus and is the signal for a full-scale lockdown of all classrooms. This book, Code Red: Conversations and Solutions for an Educational System in Crisis, presents a variety of voices from teachers, administrators, teacher preparation faculty, college supervisors, and pre-service teacher candidates. These voices are crying “Code Red” because they want a broken system repaired. For them, the system is bleeding, cancerous, and in turmoil, with the expectation that they work under arduous and often dangerous conditions; teachers are underpaid, devalued, exhausted, voiceless, and abused. They face an environment in which politics has replaced learning, students are failing and, in extreme circumstances, walking away from schools or even committing suicide. The political discourse is wrestling control from teachers in certain states. Neurodivergent students are being pushed aside. The altruistic profession of teaching is being reduced to factory work, in which teachers―especially those in their first five years of service―are leaving the profession at staggering rates. The profession itself is at risk of becoming obsolete.

The contributors to Code Red believe that the American educational system has entered a moment of crisis. Their voices need to be heard, and their stories and lived experiences should be recognized. The adage is true: the answer to any problem resides with those who own the problem. We cannot create solutions without owning that these issues exist, and all of America owns the education of our children. Therefore, this book provides a dialogic space where everyone involved in the American educational system can reimagine the possibilities of our system and, through this process, begin creating positive and sustainable changes to bring our system out of crisis. In addition to providing a vivid picture of the current state of public schools, the book offers real solutions that can be used to produce healthier, more successful classrooms. It is an invaluable tool for instructors, pre-service teachers, and Colleges of Education administrators.

Perfect for courses such as: Introductory Education; Undergraduate Social and Cultural Foundations of Education; Introductory Educational Leadership; Introductory Undergraduate Teacher Preparation; Graduate Foundations of Education; and Introductory MAT Graduate

Joseph R. Jones, Ph.D. is a Professor of Education and qualitative researcher whose research resides within a critical theory paradigm. His research primarily examines inclusivity within educational environments, specifically heteronormativity. He is the recipient of several awards including the 2017 Stonewall Service Award from CCCC/NCTE. He is also the recipient of the Georgia Council of Teachers of English 2020 Teacher of the Year Award.

Anna Dunlap Higgins-Harrell has a master’s degree in English with Teacher Preparation and a PhD in English. Her research focus began with Emily Dickinson and then moved to Appalachian Studies. For the last decade, her scholarship efforts have centered on excellence in teaching and learning.

Julie Little, EdD is an Assistant Professor of Education. She spent 20 years as a K-12 educator in Special and General Education; she now teaches Special Education courses to teacher candidates. Julie’s research interests include ungrading, relational pedagogy, service learning, and utilizing the Principles of Universal Design (UD) for Learning in higher education.