Classroom for Change is on a mission to be a force for change. Our classroom community isn’t just for educators because real change takes everyone. When teachers, students, leaders, and advocates come together to create lasting change, there’s no limit to what we can do. There is so much power to be unlocked within + beyond the classroom.
Our collective mission at Classroom for Change is to bring about positive change through literacy, justice, and everyday activism.
As an elementary and middle school teacher turned teacher educator now Ph.D. candidate, I have dedicated my life to teaching and empowering kids and adults to be change agents for good. I created Classroom for Change as a way to bring about positive change to the classroom + beyond. As someone who has been in the field of education for 24 years and counting, I can honestly say the lessons that stand out the most were about the importance of equity + justice, the value of culture + diversity, and the power of collaboration + community. Like many of the great, influential thought leaders + trailblazers in education that have come before me, I believe the primary goal of education is to create changemaking global citizens in service of the good of humanity.
I began Classroom for Change as a way to bring about positive change in the classroom + beyond. This for me is personal, a dream fulfilled. It’s my way of answering a call and contributing to something greater than you + me. I can’t fully express how excited I am to have you along for the journey.
Join me!
Here's to the change we can be together,
Rose
Meet Rose!
Hey, changemaker! I'm Rose.
A note from rose cherussery,
founder of classroom for change
Proud mama, fearless educator, forever learner + founder of Classroom for Change
Though her journey led her to teach in both the public and private school settings, Rose spent most of her teaching career in special education serving students with dyslexia and other learning differences as an elementary and middle school teacher. During her tenure, Rose taught grades 1-8 and served as Co-Coordinator of the English Department and Advisor to the Student Government Association. Rose credits her growth as a practitioner to this foundational period. It was during this time that she learned to master the art of teaching using diagnostic assessments, evidence-based practices, as well as differentiated and data-driven instruction. During her teaching career, she was trained in the Phono-Graphix reading method and the EmPOWER writing method for expository writing instruction.
Rose earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education with a minor in Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and holds an Advanced Professional Certificate in English and Secondary Education with a specialization in Special Education in the state of Maryland.
After gaining classroom teaching experience, Rose decided to pursue a master’s degree in education. Rose is a proud graduate of the College of Education at the University of Maryland, one of the top-ranked colleges of education in the nation, where she completed the Teaching & Learning, Policy & Leadership program with Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi honors, earning her M.Ed. in Literacy Education and Teacher Leadership. Upon graduation, Rose returned to her alma mater to teach reading methods courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels which helped prepare preservice teachers for their careers as informed, changemaking educators.
During her time in higher education, Rose formed meaningful connections and realized there is still so much to learn, which opened the doors for a new opportunity. In August 2022, she returned to the classroom once again. Rose is currently a fourth-year doctoral student and Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Maryland pursuing a doctorate in Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership with a focus on Language, Literacy, and Social Inquiry and specialization in Literacy Education.
Education + Experience
The journey
While in graduate school, Rose came to the realization that there was a clear disconnect between theory and practice. Around the same time, she was seeking a space where educators and changemakers could connect, problem solve, and reimagine education. When she couldn't find a community quite like the one she had envisioned, she created one, and Classroom for Change was born!
The Story Behind Classroom for Change
Collective Vision
Our collective vision is to create + sustain a bold, transformative space where educators + changemakers can work together to bridge the gap between research, policy, + practice.
Personal Dreams for the Future
Rose's personal dreams for the future include earning her doctorate degree, writing children’s books, and continuing to power Classroom for Change as a force for good.
#CHANGEMAKERSUNITE
We are a community of changemakers who create change in our own spheres of influence.
I'm so glad you're here. Connect with us and join our classroom community!
#ChangemakersUnite
