Celina German, M.Ed.

Celina German is a doctoral student in the Learning, Literacies, and Technology program at Arizona State University. German's research focuses on Racial Literacy in English Teacher Education and sustaining culture affinity programs through community collaborations. German's teaching experience informs her lines of inquiry. Before starting her PhD program, German taught 11th-grade English Literature in Phoenix’s West Valley (Avondale, AZ) and still supports the school site’s Black Student Union.

Solidifying Black Student Union’s Presence on Campus: High School Alumni’s Critical Autoethnographic Reflections

To disrupt anti-Blackness on K12 campuses, scholars speak to the critical need of Black Education Spaces (BES) (Bridgeforth, 2024; Bell and Sealey-Ruiz, 2023). This workshop addresses a gap: how young people’s voices are centered in critically forming Black Education Spaces as centers for Black brilliance, healing, and academic well-being. We contribute to the critical discourse on how high school students, who experienced increasing bans on Critical Race Theory and Social-Emotional Learning, organized events, expressed their cultural needs, and advocated on behalf of other Black students. Drawing from Black Feminist theory, this critical autoethnographic inquiry illustrates the trials and tribulations of one Black Student Union (BSU) club and their white club advisor, in building a culture of community and care. This workshop highlights the profound impact BES had on students' high school journeys and need for BES to not only resist but also reimagine Black educational futures.