Dr. John Gunn
e-mail: johnhuntergunn@hotmail.com
PH 150J
718.997.5165
Dr Gunn received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the Graduate Center in 2006. He completed his dissertation after a 21 year teaching career in New York City High Schools. Dr. Gunn taught for thirteen years at Central Park East Secondary School in East Harlem, a school that was widely recognized as being in the forefront of educational reform, offering interdisciplinary classes, graduation by portfolio, student community service and staff involvement in the governance of the school. Following his tenure at Central Park East Secondary School, Dr. Gunn was a founder of the Bronx High School for the Visual Arts in 2003. In his capacity as a teacher at restructured schools, Dr. Gunn developed his current research interests in systems of pedagogy, curriculum development and student assessment which engender high quality student intellectual achievement in social studies in urban schools. At the Bronx High School for the Visual Arts Dr. Gunn conducted action research in student engagement with social studies through classroom discussion which became the basis of his dissertation. In line with his concern with students’ social studies learning in urban schools, Dr. Gunn is interested in the studying the development of schools which will allow for the production of high quality student learning.
Published material
In March 2003, Dr. Gunn published an article with Dr. M. Bruce King of the University of Wisconsin, entitled “Trouble in Paradise: Power, Conflict, and Community in an Interdisciplinary Teaching Team” in the journal Urban Education.
Work in progress
Dr. Gunn is working with Social Studies teachers from regions 3 & 4 in New York City to develop curriculum units which will produce high-quality student learning in social studies.
Presentations/workshops at professional conferences
Dr. Gunn will present at the April 2007 American Education Research Association his a paper derived from his dissertation entitled “"Hegel's Philosophy of Spirit and
Student Talk: A Case Study in an Urban High School" In 2006 Dr. Gunn gave a talk on portfolio assessment at the Project Directors meeting of the U.S. Department of Educations Teaching American History project. He also led a workshop at the Coalition of Essential Schools Small schools summer institute on high quality student work in social studies and English. In the past he has presented at educational research conferences on the model of authentic pedagogy and student achievement developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin, professional communities of teachers, and student engagement.
Courses Taught:
SEYS 363: Methods of Teaching Social Studies in Middle and High School
SEYS 383: Curriculum and Assessment in Teaching Social Studies
SEYS 536: Educational Foundations
SEYS 760: Curriculum Innovations in Social Studies
Research interests:
Curriculum development in social studies, assessment of student learning in social studies, action research in social studies, and the professional discourse of social studies educators.
Professional Memberships:
Dr. Gunn is a member of the Teacher as Researcher and Sociology of Education Special Interest Groups of the American Education Research Association
Honors:
Dr. Gunn was chosen as Bronx Teacher of the Year in 2003 by the Bronx Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Norman Wechsler