Wessel-Powell’s new book discusses intersections of school equity, advocacy, place-based literacy
Publication Title
Cultivating Equity Literacy in Schools and Communities
Author
Christy Wessel-Powell, Alexandra Panos, Casey Pennington, and Regina Weir
Publisher
Routledge
Publication Date
May 28, 2026
About the Book
Cultivating Equity Literacy in Schools and Communities begins by introducing the topics and intersections of school equity, advocacy, and place‑based literacy, and by describing the unique methodology of Multigenerational Collaborative Ethnography used in this book to understand schools’ material, social, and reputational change over time. Chapter 3 examines case studies of elementary schools across the Hillsdale Public Schools (HPS) district, highlighting two schools at opposite ends of the socioeconomic spectrum. The following five chapters present perspectives and counter-stories from families, educators, and children about school choice in their communities, demonstrating how literacy―for children, families, and educators―is an essential tool for navigating school decision‑making processes. Finally, this volume reflects on how we can and should define a ‘good’ school through ethnographic understandings of the counter-stories discussed.
About the Author
The scholarship of Christy Wessel-Powell, associate professor of literacy and language education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, focuses on literacy and equity. Her research is rooted in a commitment to understanding and enacting equity in classrooms and communities through literacy. This scholarship focuses on two intersecting strands of inquiry: (1) elementary literacy: particularly, literacy teacher education, and how teachers use approaches in reading and writing instruction and media-infused “playshops” in schools as a vehicle for richer curricula; and (2) equity: particularly, the intersections of education reform, media and advocacy, and how these are leveraged to support teacher and community action toward school equity. She is the Director of the Center for Literacy and Language Education and Research (CL2EAR).