Jeff Claus

Teaching, Research, and Service Interests
Issues of equity, diversity and social justice in education; multicultural education and the preparation of culturally responsive teachers; the achievement (or education) gap; the sociocultural dynamics of teaching and learning; service learning; democratic, project-oriented instruction; and school-community partnerships for social change. Much of my work revolves around trying to help make K-12 schools, classrooms, and communities more welcoming and supportive places where ALL young people and their families are respected, valued, and supported. As part of this pursuit, I work with others, both on campus and in the community, to help educate about issues of diversity and to build a multicultural society founded on mutual respect, understanding, and justice.

Courses Taught
Education and Society; Social and Cultural Foundations of Education; Culture and Community in Education and Teaching; and Education for Social Change.

Community Projects and Activities
Co-presenter and designer of an Ithaca City School District staff development workshop series titled, "Closing the Education Gap Now;" Board member and vice-president of Ithaca's Southside Community Center; grant writer and program developer for Southside Community Center to create a recording studio program for youth; past co-director and primary grant writer of the Community Unity Multicultural Music, Media, and Arts Program; a past member of the steering committee of the Village at Ithaca Initiative, a group working to address the achievement gap.

Selected Publications
Service Learning for Youth Empowerment and Social Change. With C. Ogden. (Eds.) Part of the Adolescent Cultures, School and Society Series. New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 2001.

Service Learning for Youth Empowerment and Social Change: An Introduction. With C. Ogden. In J. Claus and C. Ogden (Eds.) Service Learning for Youth Empowerment and Social Change. New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 2001.

An Empowering, Transformative Approach to Service. With C. Ogden. In J. Claus and C. Ogden (Eds.) Service Learning for Youth Empowerment and Social Change. New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 2001.

Service Learning for Social Change: The Importance of Community Collaboration and a Critically Reflective Framework. With Teresa Michel. In T. O'Connor (Ed.) Cornell Service-Learning Symposium Working Paper Series, Volume 2. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Public Service Center, 1999.

"You Can't Avoid the Politics:" Lessons for Teacher Education from a Case Study of Teacher-Initiated Tracking Reform. Journal of Teacher Education, 1999, 50(1): 5-16.

Reflection as a Natural Element of Service: Service Learning for Youth Empowerment. With C. Ogden. Equity and Excellence in Education, 1997, 30(1): 72-80.