In her book, Teaching to Transform: From the Inside Out, Dr. Belinda Ross takes a poignant look at our educational system today and the all important relationship between teacher and student as it relates to the changing, diversified student population. Though she focuses on the college and university level of students, the book outlines strategies for any level where learning is taking place. Having been a student and now an instructor for over twenty years, she challenges educators to look deep within themselves at how or if they are changing to effectively address this shift with care and understanding. It is a serious, revealing and straightforward approach filled with compassion but also hard truths for both student and educators. It is undeniable that transforming with open eyes and willing hearts is the only way to go if we are to effectively teach in our society today. We have taught with are heads but now it is time to add our hearts.
About the Author: Dr. Belinda Ross was born in Chicago, Illinois. However she grew up in Flint, Michigan. Born to teenage parents, she was raised by the Reverend Otis and Lue Cartlidge. She learned early on that everyone is special in their own way and deserving of goodness and kindness in their lives. Though her grandparents only made it to third and sixth grade, they encouraged her to go to college and get a good education. Because of the love she had for her grandparents, she vowed to never let them down. In this effort, though it was not easy, she received her Bachelor's degree in Sociology, Master's degree in Counseling, and a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. For nearly three decades Dr. Ross has been an educator. She has had the opportunity to teach at the following institutions of higher learning, National University for twenty years instructing both bachelor's and master's students in the Schools of Psychology and the School of Education in Los Angeles, California, Psychology Department at Riverside Community College in Riverside, California, the historical Spelman College for five years in the school of psychology, and currently teaches psychology at LeCordon Bleu Culinary Arts College in Tucker, Georgia. For ten years Dr. Ross was in private practice in Covina, California where she treated children and adults with various mental health issues. For five years she was the Mental Health Coordinator at Delta Sigma Theta Head Start State Preschools in Los Angeles, California. While still there she became the Executive Director of the program overseeing 1,200 children and families with fourteen sites throughout the Los Angeles; she held this position for four years. She supervised a staff of 130 administrators, teachers, and support staff. In 2002 Dr. Ross was listed in Who's Who of the most Influential Women in the World. In addition, Dr. Ross is a highly respected speaker and panelist, whose topics encompass mental health, self-esteem, current events, and motivation. She is the founder of "Am I My Sister's Keeper" which is a women's conference she has presented for fifteen years. Teaching has always been a love of hers. She is devoted to her students as an instructor who teaches with her head and heart. She encourages her students to reach for the moon because they just may touch the stars.