Critical Race Theory developed as a legal concept more than 40 years ago. However, a debate over it has inundated school boards, state legislatures, PTO meetings, and the general public arena. Join us as Dr. Susan McCarter and Dr. Tehia Starker Glass provide insights into what CRT is, what it is not, and what impact the debate is having on students and schools.
In a conversation moderated by Levine Museum’s Community Engagement Manager, Karen Sutton, our panelists will give us a better understanding of CRT in order to ask the right questions and work towards change.
Meet the Panelists:
Dr. Susan McCarter
Professor McCarter’s career began as an adolescent mental health counselor, juvenile probation officer, and policy analyst in Virginia. For over 25 years, she has served as a Racial and Ethnic Disparities in juvenile justice scholar and a forensic practitioner. Nationally, Dr. McCarter serves as a juvenile justice forensic expert, on the board of the National Organization of Forensic Social Work, and chairs the Society of Social Work and Research’s Criminal and Juvenile Justice Interest Group. Regionally, she co-chairs the NC RED Subcommittee and the Charlotte Racial Justice Consortium (a collaboration of UNC Charlotte, Johnson C. Smith, Queens University, Johnson and Wales University of Charlotte, and Central Piedmont Community College) dedicated to truth, racial healing and transformation. She also serves on the Race Matters for Juvenile Justice leadership team and chairs their data subcommittee. Susan teaches at UNC Charlotte where she co-facilitates the UNC Charlotte Racial Equity Skill Building Caucus; leads multiple funded research studies examining the School-to-Prison Pipeline (STPP), Juvenile Diversion, and Racial Equity; and speaks and trains nationally on these topics.
Dr. Tehia Starker Glass
Dr. Tehia Starker Glass is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Elementary Education in the Department of Reading and Elementary Education at UNC Charlotte. Dr. Starker Glass earned degrees from Bethune-Cookman University (B.S. Elementary Education), the University of Northern Iowa (M.A. Educational Technology), and University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Ph.D. Educational Psychology). Dr. Starker Glass’ teaching background spans K-12 through higher education. She has taught in Japan, Italy, Hawaii, New York, Florida, and Tennessee. The majority of her teaching experiences have been in urban and/or title one elementary schools while in the states. Dr. Starker Glass’ research interests include preparing preservice and inservice teachers’ culturally responsive teaching self-efficacy, examining motivational factors that influence teachers’ behavior towards culturally diverse students, culturally responsive classroom management, investigating the role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) and teacher education, and instructional design.
Karen Sutton – Moderator
Karen Sutton currently serves as the Community Engagement Manager for the Levine Museum of the New South. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education and is currently pursuing a Graduate degree. Karen also has a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. She is also a member of the Catalyzing Change Leadership Team for Race Matters for Juvenile Justice (RMJJ) and helps facilitate monthly sessions on topics pertaining to racial equity and justice. Karen is passionate about helping others and advocating for what is right. She believes that educating others on what diversity and inclusion truly mean and increasing social capital opportunities for those who need it most, will help Charlotte become a more equitable, fulfilling, and prosperous place to live and grow.