Former Nacogdoches mayor headlines fifth annual teach-in

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Nacogdoches community members and Stephen F. Austin State University students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the fifth annual International Women’s Teach-In from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 24 virtually on Zoom or in person in Room 201 of the Human Sciences Building North on the SFA campus.

Sponsored by SFA’s Organization for Women’s Leadership and Equity, or OWLE, the teach-in will kick off with a session by Judy McDonald, former Nacogdoches mayor and the namesake of the city’s public library.

“From teaching during the pandemic, to gender and sexual policing, to inherited perfectionism, to reprioritizing, the 15 30-minute sessions offer good information and strategies for everyone, including men,” said Jamaica Ethington, a graduate student in student affairs and higher education from Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The teach-in was established as an alternative to the nationwide A Day Without a Woman strike in 2017, which was held March 8, International Women’s Day.

“Rather than participate in that, some SFA faculty members planned a teach-in for that day,” said Dr. Heather Olson Beal, a professor of education studies and faculty co-chair for OWLE. “A teach-in is like a sit-in, though instead of sitting and protesting, we taught. The event was fabulous, and now we do it annually.”

Due to COVID-19 guidelines, those attending the event in person must wear masks and practice social distancing. Paid parking is available in the Wilson Parking Garage or the Student Center Parking Garage (accessible via Alumni Drive).

To register to attend the teach-in virtually via Zoom, visit https://tinyurl.com/owleteachin2021.

For more information, view OWLE’s Facebook page at sfasu.edu/teach-in.