Beyond the Classroom: Sawsan Jaber on Identity, Equity, & Inclusivity

In this powerful episode of Siti’s Stories, we speak with Dr. Sawsan Jaber — award-winning educator, scholar activist, and daughter of Palestinian refugees — about reclaiming identity through education and the legacy of resistance carried through generations of Palestinian women.

Sawsan’s story begins with her great-grandmother, a fierce woman who fought in the Battle of Deir Yassin, and continues through her parents' journey as refugees. Now in her 26th year as an educator, Sawsan is on a mission to decolonize education, center marginalized voices, and help students reclaim their own stories with pride.

We discuss her dissertation on the experiences of Arab American students in U.S. public schools, her work as a curriculum designer, English teacher, department chair, and founder of Education Unfiltered Consulting. She shares how she uses writing and storytelling to guide students toward self-love, identity, empathy, and understanding others across difference — all while creating classrooms rooted in equity, acceptance, and justice.

Sawsan also shares exciting news about her first co-authored book, coming out in July 2025, and how she’s collaborating with leaders like Shane Safir (Street Data) to transform what equitable education can look like.

🧵 Looking to explore more?
 We recommend checking out:
 📖 Rifqa by Mohammed El-Kurd
📖 Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood by Ibtisam Barakat
📘 Street Data by Shane Safir

🎉 Pre-order Sawsan’s upcoming book (coming soon) 

https://www.corwin.com/pedagogies-of-voice 

Connect with Dr. Sawsan Jaber
 📱 Instagram: @SJEducate
📧 Email: educationunfiltered@gmail.com

Connect with Siti’s Stories
 🌿 Instagram: @sitis.stories
🌐 Website: www.sitisstories.com
📧 Email: sitisstories@gmail.com