“What a grounding and energizing reminder of the power, hope, and everyday joy of our world-changing profession. When the weight of teaching feels heaviest to bear, pick up this book.”
– Carla Shalaby, Author of Troublemakers: Lessons in Freedom From Young Children at School
“When I think about educators who are out there doing ‘the work,’ one of the first people who comes to mind is Kass Minor. In her debut book, Kass leads from her years of experience working in New York City schools, and always from a place of loving accountability. This is a must read for any educator and person who strives to center community in their field.”
– Liz Sohyeon Kleinrock, Author of Start Here Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community
“Kass Minor’s luminous book, Teaching Fiercely, draws us into a world where teachers actively cultivate a pedagogy of justice and joy. Through practical tools and personal stories, Minor invokes a space of radical possibility, reminding us that our communities already hold the knowledge we need to transform teaching and learning.”
– Shane Safir, School Transformation Coach, Consultant and Author of The Listening Leader and Street Data
“Teaching Fiercely is a joyful, collegial invitation to incorporate our whole powerful selves into teaching for justice so that we may invite students to engage and learn with their whole powerful selves. As a most beautiful bonus, this invitation comes with guidance for teaching for justice in meaningful, transformative ways from an author who is known to walk her justice talk.”
– Paul Gorski, Founder of the Equity Literacy Institute
“In a landscape heavy with the weight of increasing WHYs about the urgency for remedying injustices, Kass Minor provides a wise, insightful, and joyful guide for educators about HOW to move forward day to day in the work of justice with a ferocious heart.”
– Ashley Lamb-Sinclair, Author, Educator & National Geographic Explorer
“Teaching Fiercely is exactly what you need right now whether you are a new or veteran teacher. Kass Minor's voice is strong and clear – teaching must be joyful and just. At the heart of this book is love and respect for children, families, communities, and teaching as an art. This book will be your anchor to living a teaching life in which you bring your whole self, and which is steeped in reflection and action.
– Dr. Laura Ascenzi-Moreno, Professor of Bilingual Education, Brooklyn College, City University of New York
“For educators who are striving to engage in justice-centered work and align values to equitable classroom practices, this book will nourish your soul and well-being during these complex times in education. Kass Minor beautifully blends scholarship, teacher activism, and her wealth of educational experiences to emphasize how we build and sustain a sense of connection and belonging in school communities out of love for youth and humanity.”
– Erica Buchanan-Rivera, Educator and Author of Identity Affirming Classrooms: Spaces that Center Humanity
“Educators seeking a relevant, accessible playbook to center joy and counter injustice in schools should approach this book with a curiosity like it was written. Kass animates possibilities that have not yet been imagined or realized in this rhythmic compilation of curated practices for a truly fierce commitment to serving children.”
– Natalie Zwerger, RE-Center Race & Equity in Education
“Kass Minor has crafted a glorious literacy love letter to all educators committed to bringing ‘joy and justice’ to life in the company of children. Her words are the gentle nudge we need to envision the HOW so that we may assume an active role toward the diverse, equitable, and inclusive schools our children deserve.”
– Dr. Mary Howard, Literacy Consultant and Author
“Amidst the fatigue and burnout that characterizes teachers' lives, Kass Minor invokes a rethinking of the educational project. This book outlines the real, nourishing classroom practices that support students’ comprehension of―and responsiveness to―justice and equity.”
– Cathlin Goulding, YURI Education Project
“What a grounding and energizing reminder of the power, hope, and everyday joy of our world-changing profession. When the weight of teaching feels heaviest to bear, pick up this book.”
―CARLA SHALABY, Author of Troublemakers: Lessons in Freedom From Young Children at School
SUCCESSFULLY PLAN, APPLY, AND ACTIVATE JUSTICE-ORIENTED LEARNING
In Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools, veteran educator and activist Kass Minor delivers an inspiring and practical discussion of what it means to be a just teacher in an education system that actively incentivizes the opposite. With full-color illustrations designed to engage the reader and highlight the vibrant life found within every school community, the author highlights promising antidotes to educational injustice. You’ll get access to the tools and resources you need to deploy a different kind of pedagogy, where ongoing justice work is not only an everyday practice, but a joy.
Offering educators everywhere a pathway to a joyful, just, and humane school environment, Teaching Fiercely’s strategies for creating human-centered, effective, and just classrooms will earn a place in the everyday practices of K-12 educators, pre-service teachers, parents, community and school board members, and local policymakers.
“When I think about educators who are out there doing ‘the work,’ one of the first people who comes to mind is Kass Minor. In her debut book, Kass leads from her years of experience working in New York City schools, and always from a place of loving accountability. This is a must-read for any educator and person who strives to center community in their field.”
―LIZ SOHYEON KLEINROCK, Author of Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community
“Kass Minor’s luminous book, Teaching Fiercely, draws us into a world where teachers actively cultivate a pedagogy of justice and joy. Through practical tools and personal stories, Minor invokes a space of radical possibility, reminding us that our communities already hold the knowledge we need to transform teaching and learning.”
―SHANE SAFIR, School Transformation Coach, Consultant and Author of The Listening Leader and Street Data
About the Author
KASS MINOR is an inclusive educator who has worked as a teacher, staff developer, adjunct professor, speaker, and documentarian. She is the co-founder of The Minor Collective, a community-based movement designed to foster sustainable change in schools.
