Acacia M. Warren, Ed.D.
Founder of RRISE UP
Dr. Acacia M. Warren takes pride in bridging her university and K-12 experience to support teachers (pre-service and in-service), students, and administrators. She is acutely aware of the social, economic, linguistic, and racial injustices that pervade American schools and society. Responding to these injustices is paramount to equitably serve all students - hence the rationale behind RRISE UP.
Dr. Warren's newest endeavor includes making post-secondary education accessible to women and young people who are currently incarcerated, and to bring UCLA faculty and students to learn alongside them, thereby challenging bias, discrimination, and injustice in a shared and collaborative learning experience. This is an extraordinary opportunity to more fully realize UCLA’s mission as a public research institution: to create, disseminate and apply knowledge for the betterment of our global society.
Dr. Warren is unapologetic about advancing youth action research, agency, equity, social justice, and inclusion. Her life’s work is a reflection of her character and ability to connect across networks. The author of two books, Project-Based Learning Across the Disciplines and Cognitive Upgrade, Dr. Warren has presented her research and +1 Pedagogy curriculum at multiple local and national conferences. She enjoys inspiring and resourcing educators with tools that elicit success and transformative practices in schools.
Dr. Warren also enjoys building capacity and efficacy in today’s youth. Because knowledge is not owned by anyone, Dr. Warren believes in sharing knowledge, receiving knowledge, and co-constructing knowledge. Most importantly, she is teachable, approachable, and a creative thinker.
Dr. Warren’s extracurricular passions include traveling (she has traveled to Africa, Asia, Canada, Carribean Islands, Europe, South America, Tahiti, and the Virgin Islands), writing poetry, and learning about different cultures. RRISE UP with her and enhance opportunities and outcomes for youth today.
Education
Ed.D., Educational Leadership
University of Southern California
Concentration: Teacher Education in Multicultural Societies (TEMS)Administrative Services Credential
Brandman University
M.A., Educational Administration
California State University, Dominguez Hills
M.A., Education and Teaching Credential
University of California, Berkeley
B.A., Liberal Studies
University of California, Riverside
Professional Experience
University of California, Los Angeles
Managing Director, Prison Education Program (Undergraduate Program)
University of California, Irvine
Single Subject Program Coordinator, Master of Arts in Teaching and Credential Program
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Adjunct Faculty for Teacher Education Program
Los Angeles Unified School District
Teacher (elementary and middle school), Data Coach, RtI Expert, GATE Coordinator, Common Core Fellow and Facilitator, Assistant Principal and District Administrator
Oakland Unified School District
Teacher (elementary)