Dr. Esther Fine

Biography

Professor Esther Sokolov Fine is a Senior Scholar and Professor Emerita in the Faculty of Education at York University. She taught from 1991 until her retirement in 2015, focusing on various aspects of education, particularly within the context of alternative schooling. Throughout her career, she worked as an elementary teacher in downtown Toronto and contributed significantly to the Downtown Alternative School program, notably with a focus on peacemaking and conflict resolution. Esther authored and co-authored several influential publications, including 'Raising Peacemakers' (Garn Press, 2015) and 'Children as Peacemakers' (Heinemann, 1995). With a rich background in creative writing, critical pedagogy, and literacy, she delivered graduate courses emphasizing developmental critical literacy and adolescent children's literature. Esther's notable research includes a 23-year SSHRC-funded project examining school-wide peacemaking initiatives in a downtown public school, aiming to investigate the intersection of diversity, social justice, and education. She held various roles in professional organizations such as the National Council of Teachers of English and served as a co-researcher in community educational activities, demonstrating her commitment to promoting educational reform and peacemaking.

Research Interests