Deborah W. Meier has spent many decades working in public education as a teacher, writer, and public advocate. She began her teaching career in the mid-1960’s as a kindergarten and Head Start teacher in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City schools. Ms. Meier went on to found and direct a network of highly successful public schools in East Harlem. In 1997 after retiring from New York City public schools, Deborah created the Mission Hill School, spending eight years as both principal and co-principal.
A learning theorist, Deborah Meier encourages new approaches that enhance democracy and equity in public education. She is currently a senior scholar at NYU’s Steinhardt School, speaks widely on educational reform, and co-writes a monthly blog for Edweek magazine with Diane Ravich: Bridging Differences.
Ms. Meier serves on the board for the Coalition of Essential Schools, FairTest, and SOS; she is also an editorial board member for magazines Dissent and The Nation. Deborah has received honorary degrees from Bank Street College of Education, Brown University, Bard College, Clark University, Teacher’s College of Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Hebrew Union College, Hofstra University, The New School, Lesley College, SUNY Albany, UMASS Lowell, and Yale University.
You may visit her website www.deborahmeier.com
Books by Deborah Meier
- The Power of their Ideas: Lessons for America from a Small School in Harlem (1995) Beacon Press
- Will Standards Save Public Education? (2000) Beacon Press
- In Schools we Trust: Creating Communities of Learning in an Era of Testing, and Standardization (2002) Beacon Press
With Ted and Nancy Sizer
- Keeping school: Letters to families from principals of two small schools (2004) Beacon Press
With Brenda Engel and Beth Taylor
- Playing for keeps: Life and learning on a public school playground (2010) Teachers College Press
With George Woods
- Many children left behind: How the No Child Left Behind Act is damaging our children and our schools (2004) Beacon Press