Nominated by: Mark A. Gooden
Vanessa Siddle Walker’s work has reshaped previous historical portraits of black segregated schools in the South and changed the way educators view and serve students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.
Vanessa Siddle Walker’s research has reshaped previous historical portraits of black segregated schools in the South. Unlike earlier accounts that focused primarily on inequalities, Walker has documented the unintended consequences of segregation by focusing on the resilience of black communities. Her seminal book, Their Highest Potential, depicted the commitment of black parents, leadership of principals and teachers, and ethos of care in the school climate. Its sequel (Hello Professor) uncovered the professional world of black educators that explains the striking similarity in beliefs and behaviors across southern black schools. The final manuscript in the trilogy (Hidden Provocateurs, Under Review) depicts black educators as passionate advocates who quietly challenged inequality and helped overturn Plessy v. Ferguson. For her revisionist historical portraits, Walker received the prestigious Grawemeyer award in Education, the Early Career Award from AERA, and 10 other national recognitions. Her articles appear in leading scholarly journals; she has lectured widely nationally and internationally, including delivering the 9th AERA Brown lecture; and has been featured in radio broadcasts, newspapers, and a PBS special. Walker also uses her findings to contextualize contemporary educational issues, including founding the school-community TITUS project, initiating cross-disciplinary conversations (Race-ing Moral Formation), and engaging legislative and community advocacy.
