Preparing Future Advocates for Change
The Justice Scholars Institute at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education provides a rigorous college preparation experience for high school students who otherwise may not receive opportunities for college exposure. We prepare them for college success by offering courses for college credit, college readiness opportunities, campus visits, and research and service-learning projects focused on social problems. The theme of educational equity and social justice is embedded across all aspects of the program. Through a mixture of classwork and real-world experiences, youth are encouraged to think in ways that prepare them to be advocates for marginalized voices.
Our Goals Are To:
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Enrich students educational prospects by preparing them for future college success
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Enhance students’ writing skills through a cross-content literacy focus
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Educate students about educational opportunity as a social justice priority
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Equip students with the tools to become change agents within their school, community, and the broader world
Program Partners
The Justice Scholars Institute is a college-preparatory experience offered by the University of Pittsburgh School of Education.
Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy
Located in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Westinghouse is part of the Pittsburgh Public Schools district. Westinghouse partner teachers include Mr. Sean Means, Ms. Angela Flango, and Mr. Vincent Werling.
Pittsburgh Perry Traditional Academy
Serving families on the North Side of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Perry is part of the Pittsburgh Public Schools district. Perry partner teachers include Mrs. Vicki Ammer, Mr. Jason Boll, and Mr. Kenneth Smith.
Pittsburgh Milliones University Prepatory School
Located in Pittsburgh's historic Hill District, Pittsburgh Milliones/UPrep is part of the Pittsburgh Public Schools district. Milliones partner teachers include Mr. Bilal Abbey and Ms. Shaquaya Gilbert.
Pitt School of Education
Consistently ranked among the top graduate schools of education by U.S. News & World Report, the Pitt School of Education is guided by a mission-vision that advances educational equity and justice.
Program Details
The Justice Scholars Institute provides courses for college credit, workshops that help students understand the expectations of the college environment, and real-world learning experiences that engage the youth in their community.
All students in grades 9-12 can be involved in the Justice Scholars Institute.
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Students in grades 9-10 meet with college mentors and learn about how to navigate pathways to college
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Students in grades 11-12 complete all of the experiences listed below
- Courses for College Credit
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During their regular school day, students take courses offered by the University of Pittsburgh College in High School program that offer college credit in high school. Pitt CHS earned national accreditation in May 2022, achieving national standards that protect course integrity and promote course transferability. Courses offered include Introduction to African American History, Biology, African American Literature, Statistics, U.S. History, Introduction to Social Justice, and Argument.
- College Readiness Programming
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In addition to college courses, the program provides a host of educational enhancement opportunities, including college preparatory workshops, out-of-school time justice focused youth development opportunities and justice-focused research training.
- Campus Visits
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Exposure to the University of Pittsburgh provides Justice Scholars Institute students with an affirmation that they belong in spaces of higher education and offers a glimpse into what the college experience will be like.
- Participatory Action Research
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Students have the opportunity to explore community-related topics and social issues through the research process. This engaged learning experience provides infrastructure to support the entire research process – from formulating a research question to presenting research. Students learn project management skills, critical thinking and perspective taking, and justice-informed engagement through the research experience.
- Community Engagement – Service Learning
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Students can participate in service-learning experiences over the course of the school year. These service learning experiences will be grounded in an understanding of historical and current injustices that affect communities.
Core Program Team
Esohe Osai is Program Director of the Justice Scholars Institute. Dr. Osai is an Assistant Professor at the Pitt School of Education. She is a community-engaged, scholar practitioner with an interest in how communities and schools can support positive development and well-being for children and youth. Her research centers on the development of psychosocial capacities in children and adolescents.
Shanyce Campbell is Co-Lead of the Justice Scholars Institute. Dr. Campbell is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Urban Education. Dr. Campbell’s research focuses on understanding how policies and practices influence access to quality learning opportunities for students marginalized by the educational system. She explores various institutional factors associated with advancing marginalized students’ opportunities to learn including instructional quality, school-community partnerships, and curriculum.
Kelcey Bailey is a Program Coordinator for the Justice Scholars Insitute. Previously, she worked at the Pittsburgh Promise in the high school coaching initiative within Pittsburgh Public Schools. She has masters’ degrees in divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and social work from the University of Pittsburgh.
Kaleah Malloy is a Program Coordinator for the Justice Scholars Institute. She began her career as a children, youth and family’s intake caseworker, she then shifted her career to working in Pittsburgh public schools as a teacher’s assistanceShe holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Pennsylvania Western University, formerly known as California University of Pennsylvania
Erica Roberts is Program Manager for the Justice Scholars Institute. Erica has worked in education for over 12 years in the public, private, and charter sectors of education. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science and her Master of Science degree in Management, both from Duquesne University.
Jackie Spieza is Research and Evaluation Coordinator for the Justice Scholars Institute. She is a master's student studying Social and Comparative Analysis in Education at the University of Pittsburgh. She grew up in New York city and received her bachelor's in education from SUNY Fredonia.
Contact Us
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