Ira Stillwell is currently a Program Facilitator with the Boston branch of Eskolta School Research and Design. In this role, she works with multiple schools within Boston and New York City Public Schools to design, test, and iterate on school-based change ideas grounded in continuous improvement, improvement science, and liberatory design frameworks. Ira previously taught both independently and in co-teaching partnerships in Manhattan (the Global Learning Collaborative and the Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction) and the Bronx (Adolescent Skills Center at Restart Academy) in New York City, as well as in Saluda, South Carolina (Saluda High School).

Ira specialized in humanities instruction and support and accessible algebra instruction in a resource room setting. Ira graduated from Hunter College with a Masters of Science in Special Education. As an instructor of the Clinical Teaching Supervision course at Hunter College’s School of Education, they supported new teachers to reflect on their instructional practices, beliefs, and their methods of inclusion. After leaving the classroom, Ira transitioned to instructional coaching and facilitating workshops focused on inclusion and co-teaching best practices.

They supported teachers to reflect on and improve aspects of their classroom practice, including topics related to social emotional learning, culturally responsive education, trauma-informed practices, formative assessment and differentiation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ira loves working with teacher teams to innovate, plan, implement, and problem-solve practices that create the most inclusive classroom environment possible for all students. Ira believes inclusion is a mindset and a way of life, and she strives to support others in creating spaces and learning experiences that celebrate difference and leverage learner strengths.

This is Ira’s second year on the Teacher Advisory Board. They appreciate the opportunity to connect with teachers, leadership, administration, coaches, and other education professionals to discuss specific teaching lab concepts and the related, larger issues in education that unite us so much more than they divide us. Learning with and from such a diverse group of individuals who all share a deep passion for education is an inspiration and one of the top reasons Teaching Lab has become such a meaningful source of community for Ira!