Learn About CED

Program Overview

About Civically Engaged Districts

Civically Engaged Districts are nurturing spaces for youth voice and engagement.

In Civically Engaged Districts, inquiry, interaction and the exchange of ideas create an environment in which all perspectives are heard and valued.

Civic action research is the catalyst, bringing young people into contact with all parts of the school community as they conduct, share and act upon their research.

Youth researchers learn from and about people from across the school community, going beyond the classroom and familiar peer groups. They share their findings with peers, teachers and district leaders, expanding community understandings and informing school practices.

Civic Action Research

Civic action research - closely related to youth participatory action research (YPAR) - is youth-led, classroom-based research on issues selected by and of concern to young people. Youth researchers choose a focus, conduct original research in their schools and communities, share what they've learned and take action.

Educator & Student Perspectives

Hear from our Participants

Click the videos below to hear firsthand from students and educators who have been a part of Civically Engaged Districts

Educator Perspectives

Student Perspectives

Results & Reports

Team

Meet the CED Team

PROJECT TEAM

Beth C. Rubin, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University (after 22 years at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education). Rubin investigates how young people learn and engage as citizens across classroom, school, community and national contexts. She works with educators and youth to design and study curricular and pedagogical innovations that attend to the complexities of youth civic learning amid historical and contemporary injustice.

Leslie Calabrese, MA, BCBA

Co-Principal Investigator

Special Educator with a focus on behavioral, cultural, and educational equity for historically marginalized populations. Board-certified behavior analyst with over 15 years of experience teaching in the K-12 classroom. Special Education faculty teaching undergraduate and graduate pre-service teachers. Program Coordinator for the 5-Year Ed.M. Special Education/Elementary Education and Gifted Education programs.

Lauren Opiela, Ed.D.

Project Coordinator

Lauren Opiela has fourteen years of experience teaching in the New Jersey public school system. During that time, she taught several elementary grade levels, was a reading interventionist, and facilitated professional development workshops for teachers. In 2018, she graduated from Rutgers Graduate School of Education with her Ed.D where she focused on teacher leadership. Currently, Lauren is a part-time lecturer at the GSE. She teaches literacy development courses, the internship seminar, and provides student teachers with supervision and mentorship.

Hannah Batren

Project Administrator

Hannah Batren is the Program Coordinator supporting assessment, accreditation and community engaged work at the GSE. She graduated in 2014 with her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, and in 2018 with her Master’s in Education from Bank Street College of Education’s Museum Leadership Program. Hannah is passionate about empowering community spaces and developing meaningful partnerships between community members and educational institutions.

Discover the CED Impact

YPAR MENTORS

Laura Arredondo, Ed.D.

Supervisor, Hunterdon Central Regional High School

Dr. Laura Arredondo is the Supervisor of World Languages and ML Programs at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. Laura completed her doctoral degree at the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University, New Brunswick in May, 2020. The focus of her dissertation was exploring the integration of Youth Participatory Action Research in the bilingual language arts classroom to promote student engagement and success. Laura also serves on the executive board of NJTESOL-NJBE.

Carlo Austria

Social Studies Teacher

Carlo Austria is a Social Studies teacher that was first introduced to the Civically Engaged Districts (CED) Project in 2022. After two years of helping pilot the Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) program at his school, he was invited to join the project team as a CED mentor. Carlo is excited to work with the project team, and his former Rutgers professor Dr. Rubin, to share the unique learning opportunities the CED project can offer students in the classroom. Carlo is a Rutgers University graduate earning his Bachelor’s degree in History and his Master’s degree in Social Studies Education.

Dr. Tristian Cox

K-12 Social Studies Supervisor, Plainfield Public Schools, City of Plainfield

Dr. Tristan M. Cox was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey. After graduating from Plainfield High School, Dr. Cox went on to earn a degree from Rutgers University in African American studies where he also completed his Master’s degree in Social Studies Education. After teaching for a few years he later received his second Master’s degree from Seton Hall University in Educational Leadership. Dr. Cox would continue his studies to earn his doctoral degree from Seton Hall University. The goal of his study was to analyze how one New Jersey School district responded to a demographic shift from being predominantly African American to predominately Latinx. After teaching for ten years Dr. Cox was hired to supervise the Social Studies department in the Plainfield Public School District. Dr. Cox has a strong passion for providing teachers and students with positive experiences that extend beyond the confinements of the classroom.

Brandi Gustafson, M.A.

7th Grade Social Studies Teacher, New Brunswick Middle School, New Brunswick

Brandi Gustafson, M.A. is a 7th-grade Social Studies teacher at the New Brunswick Middle School, where she leads the NBMS Youth in Action club. She teaches the Youth Participatory Action Research course at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education.

Luma Hasan, M.Ed.

Co-founder of Teach for Liberation

Luma Hasan is a New Jersey educator and co-founder of Teach for Liberation. For over 8 years she has been teaching, designing curriculum, and facilitating professional development that prioritize anti-bias, anti-racism, liberation and decolonization. She has also led and facilitated student-centered youth participatory action research programs throughout New Jersey. In collaboration with educators, students, and community members Luma works to create spaces of reimagination for our schools. Luma holds a Bachelor's degree in History and a Master's degree in Social Studies Education from Rutgers University.

Dr. Marnie McKoy

Adjunct Professor, Kean University, Union

Dr. Marnie G. McKoy’s twenty seven years in education have earned her a strong reputation in independent, charter and traditional public school settings. Marnie most recently served as the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources for New Brunswick Public Schools in New Jersey. She also served as Director of Accountability in Paterson Public Schools; as a charter school CEO and Principal in Paterson; Principal of an independent school in Newark; and as teacher and administrator at the Pingry School in Martinsville, New Jersey. Marnie has taught courses in the Rutgers Graduate School of Education and is teaching in Kean University’s Educational Leadership Department and Seton Hall University’s Executive Doctoral Educational Leadership Program. Marnie is a graduate of Rutgers University and Seton Hall University where she earned an undergraduate degree in English and graduate and doctorate degrees in Educational Leadership, Management and Policy respectively.

Orion Nolan, M.A.

Inclusion Teacher, Roosevelt School, Manville

Orion Nolan is a 3rd grade inclusion teacher at Roosevelt School in Manville, New Jersey. Orion has her Masters in Education from Rutgers Graduate School of Education and is certified for K-6 and Special Education K-12. She has led the Youth in Ac