Email: joshua@mrjblock.com
Twitter: @jhblock
Joshua Block teaches students English and History at Science Leadership Academy, a public high school in Philadelphia. His work with students integrates inquiry, project-based learning, technology integration, creativity, and creation. He teaches teachers and consults with educators and schools in multiple contexts. He is a National Board Certified Teacher, has won multiple teaching awards, and writes about education.
Experience:
Science Leadership Academy, Philadelphia, PA: September 2006-present
Teach English and Social Studies to 10th and 12th grade students. Create interdisciplinary project based curriculum in a 21st Century learning environment that emphasizes inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation and reflection. Facilitator of professional development. Co-coordinator of Student Assistant Teacher Program and mentor to younger teachers and student teachers. Collaborator with multiple outside organizations.
Inquiry Schools, Philadelphia, PA: May 2015-present
Coordinate and teach Summer Teaching Institute, week-long PD intensive for teachers focusing on inquiry, project-based learning, and technology integration.
Edutopia, Edutopia.org: September 2013-present
Education blogger with a focus on inquiry, project-based learning and teacher leadership.
Full archive of posts can be found here.
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA: January 2015-present
Adjunct instructor at the Graduate School of Education. Design and teach Social Studies methods course in the Penn Residency Masters in Teaching program.
Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA: July 2013
Adjunct instructor at the School of Education. Designed and taught SLA/Drexel Summer Institute to a group of educators from around the country. Focused on inquiry, project-based learning, and technology integration.
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, September 2006-2008
Guest instructor in the Graduate School of Education. Taught Teach for America Social Studies teachers with a focus on integrating writing and project based learning into classroom instruction.
Bodine High School, Philadelphia, PA, September 2004-June 2006
Taught 10th Grade English, IB English, American History and International Studies. Elected building representative to the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.
Awards and Honors (partial list):
Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching, 2016
Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Adele Magner Memorial Award, Spring 2012, Spring 2014
PBS Teachers Innovation Award, Spring, 2010
National Board Certification in English Language Arts, Spring, 2009, 2019
Mentor teacher to first place winners in Philadelphia Young Playwrights Festival Contest, 2008-2018
Education:
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, May, 2001
Masters of Science in Education.
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, August, 1996
Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology. Focus on Urban Anthropology. Minor in Modern Middle Eastern Studies.
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel, August, 1994-July, 1995
Israel Studies Specialization: intensive language and cultural studies.
Presentations (partial list):
Coalition of Essential Schools Fall Forum, 2012, 2013
Ethnography in Education Forum, University of Pennsylvania, 2010, 2012, 2015
Big Ideas Fest, Washington, DC, 2018
Educon, Science Leadership Academy, Philadelphia, 2009-2020
Mr J Block 