Dr. Carey Seeley Dzierzak, Ed.D
Carey is a skilled educator and leader, she brings over 25 years of educational experience to her consulting work. She will support your school/organization in working collaboratively to build comprehensive literacy instruction, culturally relevant teaching practices and work with you to find creative solutions for your school/organization!
As a principal, Carey has been committed to creating an inclusive peace-centered environments for her students and staff.
-
She has worked collaboratively to make connections to the peace actions and social emotional learning focus areas. Carey has led her staff in implementing restorative practice approaches to support school climate and conflict resolution.
In her personal life, Carey is a busy parent with her husband of over twenty years, Lou Dzierzak, who is also a writer.
-
They have four amazing children, many fur babies and keep busy and engaged in our community!
My original mentors for peace education are my loving parents, Jane and Bill Seeley. My work in peace education is dedicated to their love and encouragement. My Dad was in the Peace Corps in Bangalore, India in the sixties where he met my brother Krishna Seeley. He was also an attorney and a professor at the Carlson School of Management, University of MN. My Mom, Jane was a Freedom Rider, part of the Gray Panthers, my Girl Scout troop leader, dedicated social service champion and an all around wonderful human being. My parents have both passed away, but would love to see me continuing peace education work.
As a University Lecturer at the University of Minnesota, she works with pre-service teachers to understand the foundations of literacy. This is focused on social justice, racial equity and creating a comprehensive literacy program for their future students which includes the five pillars of literacy instruction: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary & Comprehension.
She is a compassionate educator focused on bringing peace education resources, lessons and strategies to schools across the world.
-
She has been involved in education for over twenty years working in diverse settings. Carey has served in many roles over the years; she has been a Reading Recovery teacher, first grade teacher, literacy coach, instructional coach and leader, Elementary Curriculum Director, Assistant Principal and a Principal and Lecturer in Higher Education. Through these various roles, Carey has remained committed to culturally relevant peace education and strong literacy instruction.
Her dissertation at Hamline University focused on embedding culturally relevant teaching practices into school structures.
-
She believes in creating Culturally Affirming Systems of Instruction, where culturally relevant teaching is not an afterthought, but rather at the center of all instructional practices.
As a University Lecturer at the University of Minnesota, she works with pre-service teachers to understand the foundations of literacy. This is focused on social justice, racial equity and creating a comprehensive literacy program for their future students which includes the five pillars of literacy instruction: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary & Comprehension.
