Publications
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Simmons, R. (2014). Navigating intraracial and interracial relationships at a Jesuit high school: Using resilience theory and Critical Race Theory to craft a framework for success. Journal of African American Males in Education, 5 (2), 167-181.
Simmons, R. (2013). Understanding the local context of the civil rights movement: using service learning to develop an oral history of our community. Black History Bulletin, 76 (2), 14-18.
Simmons, R., Carpenter, R., Ricks, J., Walker, D., Parks, M., & Davis, M. (2013). African American male teachers and African American students: Working subversively through hip-hop in three urban schools. International Journal of Critical Pedagogy , 4 (2), 69-86.
Simmons, R. (2012). Exploring how African American males from an urban community navigate the interacial and intraracial dimensions of their experiences at an urban Jesuit high school. Journal of Urban Learning, Teaching, & Research, 8, 4-12.
Webster, N., Coffey, H., & Simmons, R. (2012) Becoming "agents of change": The possibilities of using service-learning and critical pedagogy to prepare pre-service teachers to be critically conscious educators of urban African American learners. African American Learners: Journal of the Institute for the Study of the African-American Child, 1(1). Retrieved from https://isaac.wayne.edu/research/journal/current-issue.php
Simmons, R. (2012). Don’t just talk about it be about it: The role of narrative and activism as a Critical Race Theorist. PowerPlay: A Journal of Educational Justice, 4(1), 217-224.
Owens, D., Simmons, R., Bryant, R.M. & Henfield, M. (2011). Urban African American males' perceptions of school counseling services. Urban Education, 46(2), 165-177. Paper honored in the 2012 Urban Education Editor’s Choice Selection.
Simmons, R. (2010). Pursuing racial equity in our schools: Lessons learned from African American male teachers in a suburban school district. AILACTE Journal, 7(1), 33-47.
Simmons, R. (2009). The bumps along the way: The journey of novice service-learning practitioners in an urban school. Journal of Urban Learning, Teaching, and Research, 5, 65-73.
Landsman, J., Moore, T., & Simmons, R. (2008). Reluctant teachers, reluctant learners: Intersections at the schoolhouse door. Educational Leadership, 65 (6), 62-66.
Book Chapters (peer reviewed)
Jones, K., van Belle, L., Johnson, G., & Simmons, R. (in press). Beyond the Common Core and the politics of education reform: The Role of school counselors and teachers in facilitating the college and career readiness of urban students. In E. Zamani-Gallaher (Ed.), The Obama Administration and Educational Reform. United Kingdom: Emerald Group Publishing.
Ross, F., Watson, A., Simmons, R. (2014). Changing the field: Teachers of color move into leadership positions. In C. Sleeter, L. Neal, & K. Kumashiro (Eds.) Diversifying the Teacher Workforce: Preparing & Retaining Highly Effective Teachers (pp. 46-56). New York: Routledge.
Simmons, R., Moore-Thomas, C., & Watson, A. (2014). Young scholars: African American males and academic identity development. In Y. Sealey-Ruiz, C. Lewis, & I. Toldson (Eds.) Teacher Education the Black Community: Implications for Access, Equity, and Achievement. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishers
Simmons, R. (2013). It can be done and it must be done: Creating educational excellence for African American girls in urban science classrooms. In E. Zamani-Gallaher & V. Polite (Eds.). The State of the African American Female in Michigan: A Courageous Conversation. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press.
Simmons, R. (2013). Introduction: Our separate voices, our combined vision. In S. Grineski, J. Landsman, & R. Simmons (Eds.). Talking about Race: Alleviating the Fear (pp. 9-11). Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.
Simmons, R. (2012). Looking back on teaching in Detroit: Lessons learned from a middle school classroom. In R. Lake & T. Kress (Eds.). We Saved the Best for You: Letters of Hope, Imagination and Wisdom (pp. 157-160). Rotterdam, Netherlands: Sense Publishers.
Simmons, R, & Carpenter, R. (2011). Innovation in urban education: Two charter schools in Detroit lead the way. In L. Howell, C. Lewis, & N. Carter (Eds.) Yes We Can!: Improving Urban Schools Through Innovative Educational Reform (pp. 3-21). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Simmons, R. (2011). The empty desk in the third row: Experiences of an African American male teacher. In J. Landsman & C. Lewis (Eds.), White Teachers/Diverse Classrooms: Creating Inclusive Schools, Building on Students’ Diversity, and Providing True Educational Equity
(2nd ed.)(pp. 47-55). Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishers.
Sledge, J., & Simmons, R. (2010). African American boys and the hip hop world. In S. Steinberg & M. Kehler (Eds.), Boy Culture: An Encyclopedia (pp. 50-54). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Anderson, D, & Simmons, R. (2010). Coming out of the HIV/AIDS closet: Giving voice to the disparate impact of HIV/AIDS on African American men nationally and in Michigan. In E. Zamani-Gallaher & V. Polite (Eds.). The State of the African American Male (pp. 165-188). East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press.
Simmons, R. (2006). The empty desk in the third row: Experiences of an African American male teacher. In J. Landsman & C. Lewis (Eds.), White Teachers/Diverse Classrooms: A Guide to Building Inclusive Schools, Promoting High Expectations, and Eliminating Racism (pp. 43-51). Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishers.
Books (published/in press)
Grineski, S., Landsman, J., & Simmons, R. (Eds.) (2013). Talking about race: Alleviating the Fear. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.
Edited Volumes (peer reviewed)
Simmons, R. (2012). Narratives and counter narratives in urban school life. PowerPlay: A Journal of Educational Justice, 4(1), 1-269.
Guest editor introductory and epilogue articles (peer reviewed)
Simmons, R. (2012). In memoriam: Derrick Bell—1930-2011. PowerPlay: A Journal of Educational Justice, 4(1), 216.
Technical / Research Reports
James, M.C., Smith, W., Simmons, R., & Levy, C. (2013). Excellence and equity: The impact of racial inopportunity on student development and achievement at Windsor High School. Chicago, IL: Center for School Evaluation, Intervention and Training, Loyola University Chicago and Center for Innovation in Urban Education, Loyola University Maryland.
Newsletters and other publications (other publications not peer reviewed)
Simmons, R. (2014). Preparing to Discuss Michael Brown in the Classroom. Developed for the District of Columbia Public Schools. http://dcps.dc.gov/DCPS/Files/download/ABOUT%20Discussion%20Teachers%20Guide.pdf
Simmons, R. (2012). Student-athletes: Is it about the game or the grade?. The Village Celebration. http://www.thevillagecelebration.com/student-athletes-is-it-about-the-game-or-the-grade/
Simmons, R. (2012). Beyond the New Computers and Fancy Buildings, Choosing a Quality School for Your Child. The Village Celebration. Retrieved from http://www.thevillagecelebration.com/beyond-the-new-computers-and-fancy-buildings-choosing-a-quality-school-for-your-child/
Simmons, R. (2012). School supplies: A toolkit for parents and kids. The Village Celebration. Retrieved from http://www.thevillagecelebration.com/hed-school-supplies-a-toolkit-for-parents-and-kids/
Simmons, R. (2012). Don’t be no educated fool: A college degree isn’t a guarantee. The Village Celebration. Retrieved from http://www.thevillagecelebration.com/2012/03/01/don’t-be-no-educated-fool-a-college-degree-isn’t-a-guarantee/
Simmons, R. (2011). A father’s love: Reflections on African American fatherhood. The Village Celebration. Retrieved from http://www.thevillagecelebration.com/newSite/2011/02/08/a-fathers-love/
Simmons, R. (2011). Learning the Value of Pre-school Through the Intellectual Debate of Four-Year Olds. The Village Celebration. Retrieved from http://www.thevillagecelebration.com/newSite/2011/05/13/learning-the-value-of-pre-school-through-the-intellectual-debate-of-four-year-olds/
Simmons, R., & Jenkins, H. (2008). 6minutes you’re on: School daze. Michigan Chronicle, Front Page, 3.
Simmons, R. (2007, Fall). A careful definition of caring. Eastern Educator, 12.
simmons, R. (2006, Summer). Creating learning environments that redefine the achievement gap as an “achievement opportunity”. Minnesota Report: Leadership for Learning, 22, 6-7.