Dr. Debi Khasnabis

Biography

Debi Khasnabis teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in multicultural and multilingual education within the Elementary Teacher Education Program at the University of Michigan's Marsal Family School of Education. As Chair of the Educator Preparation Program, she participates in the Mitchell Scarlett Teaching and Learning Collaborative (MSTLC), a strategic partnership between the University and the Ann Arbor Public Schools, focusing on collaborative projects aimed at enhancing teacher education programs. Khasnabis holds a PhD in Educational Studies with a concentration in literacy, language, and culture from the University of Michigan. Before her doctorate, she worked as a bilingual teacher in Detroit, Michigan. Her research is centered around the development of clinical contexts for teacher education, designed to respond to the needs of stakeholders in public school districts and university-based programs. Khasnabis has presented her work at numerous venues, particularly on the themes of culturally responsive educational practices and partnership dynamics in educational settings. She co-coordinates the summer ESL program for upper elementary and middle-grade English language learners and leads the Learning Initiatives for Families and Educators (LIFE) project, which prepares new teachers to engage with diverse families and communities effectively. Khasnabis has collaborated with local organizations to provide enriching summer learning opportunities for youth, and her work often emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing the perspectives of communities of color in education.

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