Elaysel Germán

Elaysel Germán began her career as a reading, language arts elementary school teacher. After teaching in the classroom, she served as a literacy coach and was responsible for K-5 literacy curriculum and professional development in after-school programs. She’s collaborated with community educators, teaching artists, and young people on best practices in culturally sustaining pedagogy. She is the 2019 recipient of the International Literacy Association, Literacy Leaders 30 under 30 award, for her advocacy work on book access in NYC communities.

Germán returned home to Camden, N.J. to pursue a doctoral degree in Childhood Studies and support bridge-building initiatives between the city and Rutgers University. Her teaching and research interests include black feminist pedagogy, epistemology/ies, and black/latinx children’s knowledge production. She strives to understand and critique systemic racism in U.S. education and advocate for learning spaces that center and love black/latinx children.