Joel Westheimer

Dr. Joel Westheimer is Professor of Democracy and Education at the University of Ottawa and an education columnist for the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC). An elected member of the National Academy of Education and a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association, his work focuses on the role of schools in democratic societies. He was co-founder and executive director of Democratic Dialogue a research collaborative dedicated to the critical exploration of democratic ideals in education and society. His most recent books include the award-winning What kind of citizen? Educating our children for the common good, second edition and the edited volume Pledging Allegiance: The Politics of Patriotism in America's Schools (foreword by the late Howard Zinn). He began his career teaching in the New York City Public School system. Dr. Westheimer has delivered more than 400 keynote speeches and is a regular contributor to newspapers and magazines including The Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, and the Toronto Star. He lives in Ottawa, Ontario where, in winter, he ice-skates to and from work.