Toyosi Stephen, Adedara is a rising star in the field of education, with a focus on enhancing teacher education through community engagement. With a Bachelor’s in Social Studies Education and a Master’s in Teacher Education, Mr Adedara is currently pursuing a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction at Baylor University.
Having taught social studies, civics, and history for five years in Nigeria, Mr Adedara researched using service learning to curb social vices like cultism and drug abuse among secondary students in Ondo State. This work highlighted the potential of community engagement in addressing societal issues through education.
Now in the United States, Mr Adedara plays a key role in the award-winning Baylor iEngage summer camp program, which won the Sandra Day O’Connor Award in 2022.
Additionally, as Program Manager and Coordinator for the Community Issues Fair and the Partnership Program with the William R. Poage Congressional Library in Waco, Texas, they foster a collaborative environment for students to tackle real-world issues.
Mr Adedara also teaches a Social Issues in Education laboratory, where preservice teachers learn about diversity in education. Their goal is to secure a tenure-track professorship at an R1 university and work with international organizations like UNICEF or UNESCO to drive global educational reforms.
Admired for their dedication and innovative research, Mr Adedara is poised to make a significant impact on education in both Nigeria and the United States, paving the way for a more inclusive future in education.
