Education in Crisis: Looking to the Margins to Find Our Center as Educators Working with Refugee and Migrant Students and Families

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities within our education systems, and, in many cases, has further marginalized students of refugee and migrant backgrounds. This paper elevates the voices of educators working with resettled refugee students in the United States to identify what is needed in this time of a global pandemic to support and sustain teachers working at these margins of education. After briefly sketching the impact of COVID-19 on refugee education globally, nationally, and in New York State, this report presents emerging themes around sources of educator stress, sources of motivation, and calls for advocacy among refugee educators. It concludes with suggestions for building more inclusive, equitable, and holistic learning systems that are culturally responsive and resilient in times of crisis.