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A Badger’s Journey: Educating and Advocating through a Critical Lens
A Badger’s Journey: Educating and Advocating through a Critical Lens
Cassie Schwartz, a 2003 graduate, recently completed and successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, titled “Narratives of Jewish American Public School Educators Amidst Rising Antisemitism Post-October 7th.” Since graduating from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Cassie has dedicated two decades to education in the suburbs of Chicago, serving as a school teacher, instructional coach, and most recently, an elementary school principal and adjunct university instructor. Cassie credits the University of Wisconsin–Madison for providing a strong and robust foundation in elementary and multicultural education, which fostered critical thinking and a deep commitment to viewing the world and educational practices through a critical lens, ensuring that all people matter. This foundational education has profoundly shaped her career and ultimately led to this timely research, which delves into how Jewish American public school educators are navigating and responding to the escalating antisemitism witnessed after October 7, 2023. It meticulously examines their profound experiences of heightened fear and professional isolation, often compounded by a “deafening silence” from colleagues and institutional leadership. Crucially, the study also reveals how these significant challenges have paradoxically fostered a sharpened sense of Jewish identity and led to the development of robust, strengthened communal bonds among the educators. By amplifying these often-overlooked marginalized voices, the research challenges prevailing narratives and underscores the critical need for increased awareness, comprehensive understanding, and proactive support regarding antisemitism within public education systems.
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Cassie Schwartz, a 2003 graduate, recently completed and successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, titled “Narratives of Jewish Americ...