Training sessions offered
Foundations of Engagement – Sarah Cline
- Foundations of Engagement is a set of modules developed through a cross-campus collaboration which provides an opportunity to explore essential questions related to community engagement. In this introductory session, we address topics of identity and positionality, power and partnerships, and root cause analysis. This training is offered through the Duke Office of Civic Engagement, part of the Duke Office of Durham and Community Affairs.
Emergent Literacy and Social-Emotional Support – Jahara Davis
The primary focus of this class is on creating a dynamic learning environment where positive relationships with students take center stage. My approach involves fostering openness, trust, and honesty, laying the foundation for a supportive and engaging educational experience. While literacy skills will certainly be a part of the curriculum, I firmly believe that the growth of each student is intricately tied to the quality of the relationships we build.
The class will also integrate social and emotional skills seamlessly into the lessons. I believe in a holistic approach to education, recognizing that a stable blend of academic and emotional intelligence contributes significantly to a student’s overall development.
Middle School Math – Luke Carman
Middle School Development – Luke Carman
English Language Learners – Alaina Burr
- This session will focus on creating welcoming spaces for English language learners, best practices for language learning, and how students demonstrate language mastery in listening, speaking, reading, and writing to achieve academic success.
Using Math Modules K-2 and 3-5 – Jenny Keegan
- In this session you will learn strategies to support your students to not only find success with their math but to feel confident too! You will leave with some practical hands-on games and strategies to help any of your mathematicians!
Racial Equity – Iwinosa Idahor
- This session will focus on providing students with an overview of the importance of understanding and advancing equitable educational experiences for students from historically marginalized groups. This learning opportunity will be facilitated through an engaging look at data and an exploration of our own positionality, discussing the potential impact on students.
Our trainers
Sarah Cline
Sarah Cline (they/them) is the Civic Engagement Fellow in Duke Office of Civil Engagement.
Jahara Davis
Jahara Davis, a native of Darmstadt, Germany, spent her formative years in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Raised in a household with a retired military father and a mother who currently serves as a chaplain at the VA Medical Center, Jahara developed a strong foundation rooted in discipline and compassion.
A graduate of North Carolina Central University, she earned her undergraduate degree in English Literature, setting the stage for her journey into education. In 2014, Jahara embarked on her teaching career as an English I teacher at E.E. Smith High School in Fayetteville, NC. Demonstrating excellence in her craft, she later transitioned to West Charlotte High School in Charlotte, NC, where she garnered accolades such as Teacher of the Year and the esteemed PROJECT L.I.F.T. Learning Community Teacher of the Year for 2017-2018 in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County.
Jahara’s commitment to education extends beyond the classroom. Her dedication to creating a positive and engaging learning environment is evident in her role as the English Department Chair at Hillside High School in Durham, NC, where she currently teaches English II. Known as Professor Davis to her students, she has cultivated a unique and thematic classroom called “Village University,” inspired by the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.”
Her impact on student-teacher relationships has earned Jahara recognition as the 2022 Black SEL Awardee from the Black SEL Non-Profit. Her passion for fostering student advocacy was further highlighted when four of her former students received the inaugural Student Black SEL Advocate Award.
Jahara’s commitment to enriching the educational experience goes beyond the curriculum. In a heartwarming gesture, she bought out a movie theater to surprise all 96 of her students, creating a memorable experience with a private screening of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Her achievements have not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by her current titles as the 2023-2024 Durham Public School’s Teacher of the Year and one of the 2023 40 Under 40 Recipients for North Carolina Central University. Jahara was also recognized as the WRAL and NC Lottery Teacher of the Week in October.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Jahara Davis takes immense pride in being the mother of two beautiful children, Carter and Davis. Her impact on the lives of hundreds of students over the past ten years serves as a testament to her dedication to education and community building.
Luke Carman
Luke Carman is a current PhD candidate in Math Education at NC State University and a University Supervisor for student teachers at UNC Chapel Hill. He is the former Director of Middle School Programs at Student U, and a former math teacher in Chicago Public Schools.
Alaina Burr
Alaina Burr is the Assistant Principal of the Southern School of Energy and Sustainability. She is a NC native with 17 years’ experience in education. During her fourteen years as an ESL teacher, she provided instruction in all core content areas before becoming a Teaching and Learning Coach to support in-person and virtual instruction. Read more about Alaina here.
Jenny Keegan
Jenny Keegan is a current K-5 Math Coach for Durham Public Schools. She specializes in equipping teachers with the knowledge and resources to implement engaging math lessons for all students.
Iwinosa Idahor
Dr. Iwinosa Idahor serves as the Student Engagement and Opportunity Coordinator in the Office of Equity & Professional Development in Durham Public Schools. In this role, she primarily provides support and facilitates additional professional learning for We Are KINGS/We Are QUEENS coordinators across the district, along with learning opportunities for students. Along with supporting coordinators, in collaboration with various stakeholders, she also supports the development, implementation and evaluation of equity-focused initiatives that center students from historically marginalized and underrepresented groups. Her myriad of experiences with students include work at the K-12 and college levels, in traditional and non-traditional educational settings.
