Christopher Martell
About Christopher Martell
Christopher Martell is an Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where he has taught since 2019. His research focuses on culturally sustaining pedagogy and social justice in social studies education.
Work at UMass Boston
Christopher Martell has served as an Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston since 2019. In this role, he teaches several courses, including EDC 666 Social Studies Methods, EDC 626 Integrating Social Studies and the Arts, and EDC 660 Using Data to Plan Curriculum and Instruction. His responsibilities also include supervising student teachers, providing them with guidance and support as they develop their teaching skills.
Education and Expertise
Christopher Martell earned his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Curriculum and Teaching: History and Social Studies Education from Boston University, where he studied from 2006 to 2011. He also holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College, completed between 2002 and 2004, and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History with Teacher Certification from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, obtained from 1998 to 2002. His academic background supports his focus on culturally sustaining pedagogy and historical inquiry.
Background in Teaching
Before his current position, Christopher Martell worked as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston from 2012 to 2013. He has extensive experience in K-12 education, having taught as a History/Social Studies Teacher at Framingham High School from 2005 to 2013 and at Boston College High School from 2002 to 2005. His teaching experience also includes roles at Boston University, where he served as a Teaching Fellow, Instructor, and Clinical Associate Professor.
Research and Publications
Christopher Martell's research interests encompass teacher development throughout the career span, focusing on preservice teacher preparation, inservice professional development, and practitioner inquiry. He authored the book 'Teaching History for Justice' with Kaylene Stevens, published by Teachers College Press. Additionally, he served as the editor of 'Social Studies Teacher Education: Critical Issues and Current Perspectives,' published by Information Age Publishing.
Professional Development and Supervision
In his role at UMass Boston, Christopher Martell supervises student teachers, which involves mentoring them in their practical teaching experiences. His engagement in action research during his tenure as a high school social studies teacher reflects his commitment to examining and improving classroom practices. Martell's interests include how social studies teachers in urban and multicultural contexts implement culturally sustaining pedagogy and teach for social justice.