Start where You Are, But Don't Stay There

Start Where You Are, But Don't Stay There addresses a crucial issue in teacher training and professional education: the need to prepare preservice and inservice teachers for the racially diverse student populations in their classrooms. A practical and insightful book, it centers on case studies that exemplify the challenges, pitfalls, and opportunities facing teachers in diverse classrooms. Informing these case studies, and the book's more general discussions about race and teaching in contemporary schools, is Milner's persistent attention to opportunity gaps that need to be fully understood by teachers who aim to promote the success of students of greatly varying backgrounds. Start Where You Are, But Don't Stay There will prove indispensable to teachers, administrators and scholars alike.



"If you thought excellent teaching is based on instinct rather than learning, think again. Start Where You Are, But Don't Stay There offers wonderfully vivid case studies of practicing teachers who have learned to succeed teaching students who come from backgrounds dissimilar from--and sometimes similar to--their own. In this significant and uplifting book, Milner shares his optimism and his wisdom about teachers' potential to become border-crossers who can reach all of their students by first reaching into themselves." -- Christine Sleeter, professor emerita, California State University, Monterey Bay, and president, National Association for Multicultural Education



"This engaging and informative book is enriched by compelling examples of teachers in the process of becoming adept at their craft. Milner provides educators with the knowledge, insights, and inspiration that will help them to create schools in which all students have equal opportunities to learn." -- James A. Banks, Kerry and Linda Killinger Endowed Chair in Diversity Studies and founding director, Center for Multicultural Education, University of Washington, Seattle



"A thoughtful and insightful analysis of what it takes to educate all children, especially those who have traditionally been poorly served by our nation's schools. The ideas and recommendations presented in this book will serve as useful guides to educators, policy makers, and others who are seeking ways to create successful schools." -- Pedro Noguera, Peter L. Agnew Professor of Education, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University



"The stories Milner tells about instructional competence, caring, and facilitation are compelling examples of culturally responsive teaching in action and effect. They show that educational excellence is truly possible for children of color in U. S. schools." -- Geneva Gay, professor of curriculum and instruction, University of Washington



"This book is a must-read for educators at all levels. It showcases teachers and students improving together and doing what it takes to succeed. We will use this book as a resource for turning around our school!" -- Perry L. Daniel, principal, Prescott Middle School, Baton Rouge, Louisiana



H. Richard Milner IV is associate professor of education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University.