An Interview with Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings

ABSTRACT

Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings is the former Kellner Family Distinguished Professor of Urban Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She served as president of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) in 2005-2006. Dr. Ladson-Billings has contributed widely to the development of two fields of study, culturally relevant pedagogy and critical race theory as well as their impact on today's teachers, students, and classroom dynamics. Within her numerous publications, her passion for children who are disadvantaged in public schools is evident. Dr. Ladson-Billings developed the theory Education Debt to depict the historical significance of inequality and its pervasiveness within our culture and educational institutions. This article presents a conversational interview with Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings that was conducted on February 20, 2021. In this interview, Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings discusses (1) who mentored her or inspired her;(2) her thoughts about how the dual pandemics (COVID-19 and structural racism) are impacting teacher education;(3) her ideas about how teacher educators might help teachers encountering stressful circumstances;(4) her thoughts on educating new teachers and what might be needed to further galvanize those interested in public education, and the role it plays in our democracy, to take action;and (5) what she envisions for herself during retirement.