Steven Zemelman

Steven Zemelman is an education consultant, writer, and speaker known for his work on literacy instruction, teacher empowerment, and civic engagement in schools. He has coauthored multiple influential professional books with Harvey “Smokey” Daniels, including Subjects Matter, Second Edition: Exceeding Standards Through Powerful Content-Area Reading, as well as Best Practice, Fourth Edition, Content-Area Writing, Rethinking High School, and A Community of Writers. Zemelman has also written From Inquiry to Action: Civic Engagement with Project-Based Learning in All Content Areas and 13 Steps to Teacher Empowerment.

Zemelman was formerly director of the Center for City Schools at National-Louis University and is a founding director of the Illinois Writing Project, where he has worked extensively on writing instruction and school reform, particularly in Chicago. His recent work includes Teaching for Racial Equity: Becoming Interrupters, coauthored with Tonya Perry and Katy Smith, and ongoing advocacy for student civic engagement and teacher and student voice through professional development, consulting, and writing.