Jeff Claus

TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE INTERESTS
Issues of equity, diversity and social justice in education; multicultural education and the preparation of culturally competent teachers; the achievement (or education) gap; the sociocultural dynamics of classrooms, schools, and communities, as these influence the teaching/learning process; effective collaboration between educators and parents/caregivers; service learning; democratic, project-oriented instruction; and the role and value of the arts in education 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 guided toward full participation and success.   As part of this work, I collaborate with others, both on campus and in the community, to help educate about issues of diversity and equity and to create programs that contribute to a multicultural society founded on mutual respect, understanding, and fair opportunity.  On campus I've been chair of the Diversity Awareness Committee and a faculty associate with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholar Program.

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
My current research project is an interview study with parents of youth of color about their experiences with issues of race and racism in local schools.  In 2009-10 I will be doing workshops with local teachers based on this research and after that writing up the research for publication in journals in the fields of education and teacher education.  I'm also a board member and vice-president of Ithaca's Southside Community Center, where, among other things, I've assisted as a grant writer and program developer to help create a recording studio program for youth of limited resources.  And, I'm a member of the site council (or advisory board) for Beverly J. Martin Elementary School in Ithaca.  In addition, I've been a co-presenter and designer of an Ithaca City School District staff development workshop series titled, "Closing the Education Gap Now;" a co-director and primary grant writer of the Community Unity Multicultural Music Education Program; a board member of The Learning Web, a community-based apprenticeship and service learning program for youth; and a member of the steering committee of the Village at Ithaca, another community-based organization dedicated to addressing the achievement gap in Ithaca.

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.

OTHER ACTIVITIES
I'm also a musician who performs and records with two bands, and who, with my wife, Judy Hyman, composes and records filmscores for feature films and television documentaries.  For more about this part of my life:  www.thehorseflies.com -- www.boywithafish.com -- www.judyhyman.com