Skip to main content

Search NYU Steinhardt

Diana Turk

Diana Turk

Chair, Department of Teaching and Learning and Director of Teacher Education

Teaching and Learning

212-998-5492

Diana Turk is the Director of Teacher Education at NYU Steinhardt's School of Culture Education, and Human Development and an associate professor and Chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning. Diana received her MA and PhD in American Studies from the University of Maryland at College Park. She brings to her work in teacher education a passion for civic engagement, a commitment to teaching for democratic change, and a dedication to the fundamental belief that all teachers must be prepared to reach and teach all learners. Actively committed to an ongoing anti-racist journey, Diana recognizes the need for all students to have teachers who see, know, and understand them, as well as look like them, Diana is passionate about building a highly diverse and effective teacher corps that is anti-racist, culturally sustaining, and rigorously dedicated to teaching and guiding the nation’s children.  Diana is incredibly proud that the NYU Teacher Residency, which she helped design and build, and which she co-directs, is the 2024 recipient of AACTE's Best Practice in Multicultural Education and Diversity Award.

Selected Publications

  • Turk, D. & Berman, S. (expected, winter 2024). Making project based learning work in real-world U.S. history classrooms. Routledge Press.
  • Turk, D., Berman, S., Gentry, C., Traxler, R., and Caldwell, S. (2023). When equity and justice are front and center: Building a teacher residency that walks the walk on antiracism, equity, and justice. Issues in Teacher Education v32, n1.
  • Turk, D. & Berman, S. (winter 2018). Learning through doing: A project based learning approach to the history of the U.S. civil rights movement. Social Education.
  • Dull, L. J. & Turk, D. (2015). No more disrespect: Teaching all students to question right and wrong in history. In P.L. Thomas, P.R. Carr, J. Gorlewski, and B. Porfilio (Eds.), Pedagogies of kindness and respect: On the lives and education of children. Peter Lang USA.
  • Turk, D., Dull, L., Cohen, R., and Stoll, M (2014). Teaching recent global history: Dialogues among historians, social studies teachers, and students. “Transforming Teaching” Series, Routledge Press.
  • Cohen, R., Turk, D., & Berman, S. (2013). Teaching the port huron statement. In T. Hayden, Inspiring participatory democracy: Student movements from port huron to today.
  • Turk, D., Mattson, R., Epstein, T., Cohen, R (Eds). (2010). Teaching U.S. history: Dialogues among teachers and historians. “Transforming Teaching” Series, Routledge Press.
  • Turk, D. (2009). History of sororities. Women in American history: An encyclopedia. Facts On File, Inc.
  • Turk, D., Klein, E., & Dickstein, S. (2007). Mingling ‘fact’ with ‘fiction’: Strategies for integrating literature into history and social studies classrooms. The History Teacher,

Programs

Social Studies Education

Gain the skills you need to teach history and the social sciences and develop your research skills in the field of social studies education.

Read More

Courses

Adolescent Learners in Urban Contexts

Emphasis on applying theoretical knowledge of adolescent development to classroom teaching. Strategies for general and special education teachers to meet the cognitive, emotional, and social needs of adolescents in urban contexts. Focus on differentiating instruction to maximize learning opportunities and outcomes for all learners across ethnicity, race, national origin, linguistic competencies, ability status, learning styles, sexual orientation, gender, and social class. Issues of curriculum development, instructional planning, classroom management, and use of technology. Methods for collaboration with parents, teachers, and other professionals.
Course #
TCHL-GE 2515
Credits
2
Department
Teaching and Learning