James Manzano

James Manzano has been teaching since 2014. They have taught across several elementary school grades and roles in New York City--in general education classrooms, in ICT classrooms, in museum education for children with special needs, and currently in learning support as a Math Specialist. They are in their second year at Community Roots Charter School in Brooklyn, New York, a Roots ConnectED learning site. As part of the Community Roots Anti-Bias Education Collective, they work with staff to better support students within an anti-bias education framework, including confronting their own biases and identifying their own pedagogical blindspots. They strongly believe the most important aspects of education are building authentic and brave relationships with students and creating spaces where students feel seen, safe, and supported in their myriad identities. They feel that Roots ConnectED creates a unique space to share these practices and see the many ways other educators build and sustain their diverse communities.