Patricia Crain de Galarce

As the director of the Center for Inclusive and Special Education, Patricia is focused on equity in education. She continues to provide leadership for the Inclusion Institute and the Lesley Institute for Trauma Sensitivity.

Patricia considers herself a lifelong teacher and learner. She began her career as an elementary, bilingual, and special education teacher. She has taught almost every grade level from young children to graduate students in Massachusetts, Washington, DC, and Paraguay, South America. For 12 years, Patricia led Stokes (EWS) School, an inclusive dual language immersion elementary school in DC, as the director of education and principal.

Previously at Lesley, Patricia served as the Literacy Institute Coordinator, DC's Lead Clinical Faculty in partnership with the Urban Teacher Center, and Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Education.

Education

BS in Education, Westfield State University
MA in Intercultural Relations, Lesley University
CAGS in Education Administration, Lesley University
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, University of Pennsylvania

Selected Publications

Co-author with Cusack, S. & Lavergne, A. (2022) “Pandemic Reminders About Inclusivity and Accessibility: For Now, and in the Future.” Chapter in Cases on Practical Applications for Remote, Hybrid, and Hyflex Teaching. Edited by Shinas, V., et al.
Co-author with Avery, J. et al. (2021) "Changing Educational Paradigms: Trauma-Responsive Relational Practice Learnings from the USA for Australian Schools." Children and Youth Services Review
Co-author with Jones, A. (2021) "Early Childhood Education," chapter in Inequality in America: Causes and Consequences. Edited by Rycroft, R. and Kinsley, K., receiving the 2022 IPPY Bronze Award
Co-author with Crain, M. (2021) "Overcoming Isolation and Fatigue: Six Strategies for These Challenging Times" in The Power of Cooperation in Journal of Social and Emotional Learning, Center for Responsive Classrooms, February 2021
Co-author with Crain, T. et al. (2021) Grow Good Citizens: Educating for Civic Hearts and Minds in a Complex Democracy. Oregon Journal for Social Studies
Co-author with Terrasi, S. (2017) Trauma and Learning in America's classrooms. Kappan, March 2017
Co-author with White, R. (2017) "Teaching the Individual: Angelica's Journey of Inquiry." Chapter in "Preparing Pre-Service Teachers for the Inclusive Classroom"
Co-author with Cappiello, M. A. & Dajevskis, E. (2016) Therapy by the Book. School Library Journal, October 2016
Author (2016) Resident Teachers Take an Inquiry Stance white paper, American Educational Research Association.
Co-author with Kennedy, K. (2016) More than Pretty Pictures, with Kathleen Kennedy, in Educational Leadership, April 2016

Selected Presentations

“Developing Civic Mindedness Through Storytelling” at Social Science Education Consortium Conference: Moving Beyond a Single Story, University of Dublin, Ireland, June 2022
Special Education Parent Summit Keynote: “Lessons learned from the pandemic” and workshop: “Community connections and resilience”, Montgomery County Public Schools, June 4, 2022
“Strategies Supporting Inclusivity & High Expectations, "Reimagining Integration—Diverse and Equitable Schools, RIDES Webinar Series, Feb 2021
Impacting School Culture and Kids—the Fierce Urgency of Now" panelist at Building Bridges Conference; Massachusetts Partnership for Diversity in Education, Feb 2020
“Dr. King’s Education Dream: Looking Back and Looking Forward.” Massachusetts Reading Association April 2019
“Book Talks: Bold Reads to challenge.” SPEAK UP, 2019 New England White Privilege Symposium, October 2019
“Making our way towards Resilience” Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Conference, December 2019
“Making our way towards Resilience.” Panel presentation at SXSW EDU, March 2019
“Trauma and Resilience” presentations at NAREN (March 2016, March 2017, and October 2019) Baltimore, MD
“Bibliotherapy Webinar.” CESA Library, Feb 2019
“Framing Thinking: Developing disciplinary literacies through art” (2016) Workshop at ILA Conference, International Literacy Association, Boston, MA
“Inclusion Ignite”, University of Penn GSE Anniversary Celebration Conference, July 2016
“How do School Communities develop trauma sensitivity?” (2016) Symposium and paper at NEERO, New England Education Research Organization, Portsmouth, NH
“Get Down with Design Thinking: Inquire About Big Hairy Questions” Inquiring Minds workshop at the 95th NCSS Annual Conference (November 18, 2015) New Orleans, LA
“Inspiring Inquiry with Learning Walls” Inquiring Minds Workshop at PS 20 (October 2015, and 2016) Brooklyn, NY
“Our Students are Much More than Data Points” presentation at Assessment of ELLs with Disabilities Institute, (August 21, 2015) Marlboro, MA
“Meeting the Diverse Needs of English Language Learners” presentation at The Urban Teacher Center August Faculty Institute (August 13, 2015) Baltimore, MD

Awards

Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School Taking Care of our Community Award 2018
The Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader Award (principal of the year) 2010
Harvard-Smithsonian Center's ‘Private Universe Project’ Internship
Council for Basic Education and National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship
Vincent E. Reed Principals Leadership Award
The Catholic University of America Outstanding Contributions to Teacher Education

Community Service

Massachusetts Reading Association, 2022 Vice President of Executive Board
Inquiring Minds Board member and Pedagogista, NY
KMC Productions Education Advisor, DC

In the News

Disrupting the trauma to prison pipeline

Teacher education and community engagement are part of the solution

6 Ways to Avoid Compassion Fatigue

Educators, we know it's easy to get overwhelmed by students' struggles. Here are some ways not to.

Learn more about compassion fatigue.

Trauma & Learning: What We Now Know

What is trauma, how does it affect learning, and what can we do? Find information from Lesley's Institute for Trauma Sensitivity.

Learn About the Institute for Trauma Sensitivity

Education

Selected Publications

Selected Presentations

Awards

Community Service

In the News

Creating supportive classrooms for children impacted by trauma

Disrupting the trauma to prison pipeline

6 Ways to Avoid Compassion Fatigue

Trauma & Learning: What We Now Know