Decoteau J. Irby
Faculty DEI Award - Senior Awardee (2024)
Associate Professor, Educational Policy Studies
About
Decoteau J. Irby is an Associate Professor in UIC's Department of Educational Policy Studies. His research explores racial equity-focused school leadership and its potential to improve Black children's academic and socio-emotional experiences and outcomes. Broadly, his teaching and service work focuses on creating and sustaining organizations that contribute to Black people’s self-determined well-being, development, and positive life outcomes. He is Founding Director of UIC's Brother's Teaching Initiative, the author of several books, including Stuck Improving: Racial Equity and School Leadership (2021), a children's picture book Magical Black Tears: A Protest Story (2021), and a co-editor for the volume Dignity-affirming Education: Cultivating the Somebodiness of Educators and Students (2022).