Judi Blakely

Dr. Judith Blakely is a veteran of urban educational systems, and has been featured as a cultural diversity and multi-categorical education expert in the secondary and post-secondary arenas. She is certified in multiple states as a School Superintendent, School Administrator (pre K-12 principal), and Director of Special, Bilingual, and Gifted Education. She is also a member of the National Association for Bilingual Education (providing work and service to the discipline of world language). Her heritage and roots originate in New Orleans where her mother was born and raised and where she spent many years and summers growing up. Raised by her mother and father, a Chicago Public School teacher and a small business owner respectively, she developed a passion early for education and service. To this end, Judith co-founded a social service agency that advocates for under-represented members of society through personal development, education, and social service programs. Judith empowers individuals and communities to break the cycle of underachievement and create legacies of success. Judith also founded the International Club at Walden University. The first of its kind, the club is designed to be a “think tank” where educators (Walden students and practitioners) from Dubai to Tennessee (world-wide) can share innovative ideas on teaching and learning, mentor one another, and cultivate an appreciation of cultural diversity. Judith is a former public speaker/trainer and has been a featured training specialist for educators at numerous public Schools, charter schools, and suburban schools. Judith is an Illinois State Board of Education approved provider of continuing education credits for teachers and an approved Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) consultant for Chicago Public Schools. Judith believes that education is the door to opportunity and living a life of abundance, and that this is a gift that should be afforded to all. It is this passion that drives her to continue to look for new and innovative ways to be of service.

Courses Taught

EDUC 8090 - Doctoral Study Intensives

EDUC 8081 - Completing the Prospectus

EDUC 8201 - Residency

EDUC 8800 - Research Forum

Education

BS, Chicago State University

MS, Chicago State University

MEd, Governor's State University

EdD, Nova Southeastern University

Public Service

Country Club Hills Youth Commission, Board Member - Country Club Hills

Center for Positive Advancement, Committee Member - Chicago

Emmett Till Math & Science Academy - School Leadership Mentor, Volunteer - Chicago

Roseland Ceasefire - Youth Violence Volunteer, Volunteer - Chicago

Awards / Honors

Appointed by the Mayor of Country Club Hills to the CCH Youth Commission, City of Country Club Hills, 1987

Award of Excellence, Roseland Ceasefire, 2014

Dr. Ronald McNair Award of Excellence, Chicago Area Alliance of Black School Educators, 1986

Excellence in Educational Mentoring, Emmett Till Math & Science Academy, 2015

Excellence in Social Justice & Awareness, Center for Positive Advancement, 2016

Master Diploma for Excellence in Education, CPS, 2004

Presidential Seal of Honor for Leadership, , 1996

Superior Teacher, Illinois State Board of Education, 2001

Publications

Blakely, J. (2016). . Journal of Education and Social Justice

Blakely, J. (2016). .

Blakely, J. (2017). . Journal of Education and Social Justice (Resilience Pedagogy)

Blakely, J. (2015). Cultural Metaphors and Metaphors on Life.

Blakely, J. (2015). Reaching, Teaching and Training with an International Focus.

Blakely, J. (2016). So Many Empty Seats (An Educator's Perspective on Violence in Urban Communities).

Blakely, J. (2016). The Emotional Effects of Katrina on School Age Children.

Presentations

Blakely, J. R. (2011). Behavioral Interventions for Optimal Learning Environments. BPE Consulting Firm, LLC

Blakely, J. R. (2015). Best Practices for Literary Instruction in a Bilingual Classroom. Walden

Blakely, J. (2016). Charter Schools. Walden

Blakely, J. (2017). Organizational Psychology of Charter Schools.

Blakely, J. (2015). The Art and Science of Teaching Adults. Walden University