Reflecting on Rahima

Rahima Carol Wade, 58, died peacefully, embraced by her family at home in Greenfield, on March 27, 2012 from metastatic breast cancer. Educator, author, consultant, and pioneer in the area of service-learning, Wade was also a soul mate to many of the people who loved her long and well.

Rahima used her creativity to be one of the leaders who moved service-learning into the mainstream of preservice teacher education. In 1997, she obtained a grant from the Corporation for National Service to launch the National Service-Learning in Teacher Education Partnership (NSLTEP), a national network of teacher educators who provided professional development to teacher educators to support their adoption of service-learning. In 2000, NSLTEP merged with a similar partnership managed by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education to become AACTE NSLTEP. In 2003, this group of partners created the International Center for Service-Learning in Teacher Education, which is now housed at Duke University and sponsoring its third international conference.

As Marti Duckenfield, a member of NSLTEP commented, “None of this would have been possible without Rahima!” Don Hill, another member, stated, “I treasure Rahima for her leadership of the National Service-Learning Teacher Education Partnership… She was the heart, soul, and engine of our complex and often difficult collaboration. She was a terrific problem solver… Above all, she was a doer who inspired young and old to commit their energy and talent to the common good.” Jeffrey Anderson, another NSLTEP colleague, agreed, “Her drive and commitment resulted in great successes in research and professional development” in service-learning in teacher education. 

In addition to establishing NSLTEP, Rahima wrote numerous books and articles in service-learning in teacher education that remain invaluable for the field. In her articles, she conveyed complex ideas in lucid, accessible terms. Her books, Community Service-Learning: A Guide to Including Service in the Public School Classroom and Social Studies for Social Justice: Teaching Strategies for the Elementary Classroom, are classic resources that not only ground teachers in the foundations of service-learning and social justice teaching, but are packed with creative, practical strategies.

Rahima was a supportive colleague and a true and energetic friend. Her belief in education for civic engagement and social justice and the purity and steadfastness of her purpose were a continuous inspiration to all who knew her. As Marti Duckenfield said, “What a legacy! For those carrying on her vision, the lives of teachers and their students continue to be better.” She will be sorely missed.

We have more information on Rahima's work in a related news article.