College of Education and Human Development

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Cynthia Zwicky

  • Senior Lecturer

  • Office Hours

    Office Hours by appointment

  • Curriculum and Instruction
    125 Peik Hall
    159 Pillsbury Drive SE
    Minneapolis, MN 55455

  • zwicky@umn.edu
Cynthia Zwicky

Areas of interest

Restorative Justice; Equity; Teacher Education; Culturally Relevant Pedagogy; Social Justice in Education;

Degrees

PhD, Education Policy: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
MEd, Montessori Education: St. Catherine's University, St. Paul
BS, Elementary Education: University of Wisconsin, Madison
BS, Women's Studies, Math: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Biography

Cynthia Zwicky has been an educator for more than 25 years. In this time she has worked as a classroom teacher, a mentor to new teachers, and as a coordinator for various programs and initiatives, primarily with Minneapolis Public Schools. She has also taught undergraduates seeking a degree in elementary education where the emphasis was on teaching in urban schools.

In addition to her teaching experience, Cynthia is a nationally recognized and locally respected authority on Restorative Justice Circles.

She received two undergraduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin, Madison (Women's Studies and Math; and Elementary Education) and her Master's of Education from St. Catherine's University. Her focus was on Montessori Education and her thesis examined the effects of anti-bias curriculum on peer interactions. She received her PhD from the University of Minnesota where her primary focus was on school culture. 

Courses Taught

  • CI 3211 - Introduction to Elementary Teaching

  • CI 3212 - Practicum: Elementary Teaching

  • CI 3283 - Practicum: Special Education K-6

  • CI 5286 - Student Teaching Seminar: Elementary Education

  • CI 5283 - Practicum: Applying Instructional Methods in the Elementary Classroom

News

University of Minnesota News - “U of M Experts: Why all students benefit from special education”, Nov 25, 2019

Presentations

Cynthia Zwicky: Restorative Justice Circles: Equity and Inclusion in Action. Voices Heard: Transforming Education Equity, August, 2017.

Cynthia Zwicky: On the Spot Responses through an Equity Lens. National Association for Community and Restorative Justice, June, 2017.

Cynthia Zwicky: Fostering Equity and Inclusion through Restorative Justice, CRAG (College Readiness and Achievement Gaps), April, 2017.