The Critical Educator Network

The Critical Educator Network is a not for profit organization founded by New York City teachers. We provide professional development and resources for teachers to help their students become the critical thinkers society needs and demands.

We seek to close the "Teaching Gap" by changing the fundamental nature of teacher support and development in underserved schools and the community at large. Teachers need to model for each other the free exchange of ideas so that they can facilitate this process for students. Teachers need to be exposed to examples of the type of exemplary teaching that creates opportunities for students to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Teachers also need to come together to reflect upon and discuss their practice. Finally, teachers need to play a role in setting their own professional development goals and have access to the necessary materials and resources to achieve these self-made goals.

To this end, the Critical Educator Network creates and facilitates voluntary, self-directed, and democratic forums where educators can reflect on their practice, share knowledge, and model the free exchange of ideas. We gather and create texts, videos, unit ideas, and guest speakers so that our teachers have the tools to build their classrooms into democratic, critical thinking spaces. In short, participation in our forums provides teachers with both the space and the resources to engage in the type of responsive, collaborative and ongoing professional development that they so desperately need and, at least for New York City teachers, so desperately desire.