Flip the System US

This powerful and honest book uncovers how we can flip the system, building a more democratic, equitable, and cohesive society where teacher expertise drives solutions to education challenges. Editor Michael Soskil brings together a team of diverse voices to highlight solutions, spark positive change, and show us the path forward towards a more civil and more peaceful America. In each chapter, inspiring educators describe how we can create lasting and meaningful change by elevating teacher expertise; educating the whole child; increasing teacher morale; and fighting for all of our children to have equitable opportunity and quality schools.

Michael Soskil is an author, an international keynote speaker, and has spent the past 22 years in various teaching roles. He is a Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year, a recipient of the US Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, and in 2016 was announced as one of the top ten teachers in the world and a finalist for the Global Teacher Prize.

Section I Public Education as the Foundation of Democratic Society 1. An American Education System with Integrity 2. Engendering Student Civic Engagement: A Los Angeles Student Focus Group 3. Regaining the Democratic Heart of Education 4. Teaching for Democracy: The Role of Student Autonomy and Agency Section II An Equitable System for All 5. Systems that Promote Equitable Outcomes 6. Beyond Privilege: Using Student Perspectives to Create a More Equitable System 7. The Day After: Education and Equity after the Global Pandemic 8. Closing the Rural Opportunity Gap 9. Market Forces and Erosion of Education as a Public Good: Widening Equity Gaps Section III Healthy Students, Healthy Schools, and Healthy Communities 10. Educating the Whole Child 11. Flipping the System: A Primer for the Classroom Teacher 12. Refugee and Immigrant Education: Strengthening Our Communities 13. Impact of Trauma on the Foundational Identities of Our Children Section IV Elevating Teacher Expertise into Education Decisions 14. Teaching is a Political Profession: Stepping into the Arena 15. Lessons for the United States from International Education Systems 16. A Case Study in Distributed Leadership: Sanger Unified School District 17. #RedforEd and the Struggle for Our Schools 18. Education Union Renewal: The Key to Flipping the System Section V Supporting Teachers in a Flipped System 19. Addressing the Shortage: Recruiting our Next Generation of Teachers 20. Supporting Teachers from Historically Marginalized Communities 21. Democratized Professional Learning: The Edcamp Model 22. Pockets of Innovation: Transformational Professional Learning and Development