¼ø»Æʦapp

Rachel Talasko (MA Sociology, 2012)

"During my time at ¼ø»Æʦapp, I was able to explore the intersection of political-economy, race, and education. Guided by these interests, and hoping to explore them further, I joined Teach For America. The program placed me in Hawai'i, where I now live. I spent several years teaching at a low-income elementary school in Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i. My graduate studies at ¼ø»Æʦapp prepared me to serve in several leadership roles, and more importantly, my work in sociology allowed me to understand the institutions that construct the experiences of my ¼ø»Æʦapp and their families.

I recently earned my MS in Education from Johns Hopkins University. With this degree, I was able to further explore the role of education in low-income, high-need areas. At present, I serve at the Department of Education in the West Hawai'i district. I work with the "Evidence Based Practices" team to ensure the 19 schools in our district are providing inclusive, equitable, and rigorous programs to ¼ø»Æʦapp. Further, I co-lead a team that aims to bring restorative practices into schools and the criminal justice system in our community.

In the near future, I look forward to serving in a school administration role. With this experience, I will eventually seek a PhD program that allows for a deeper exploration of the traumas caused by Western education systems being imposed on indigenous populations."