Interview with education writer Dr. Angelise M. Rouse
Dr. Angelise M. Rouse is an education writer and staunch special education advocate. Her interest focus is on creating a meaningful, lasting and empowering educational experience for students with disabilities. Her research examines the development of opportunities to learn in special education classrooms, and how these opportunities are negotiated differently by various groups of students.
Dr. Rouse holds a Masters in Organizational Management and Special Education and received a Ph.D. in Special Education Leadership. Her first book, Especially 4 Me: A Student’s Guide to Understanding the IEP, was written to help promote self-advocacy for special education students. Her latest publication, The King Inside: A Practical Guide for Young African American Males, was written to encourage and motivate young African- American Males to succeed and navigate life’s challenges into adulthood. She is currently working on her next publication which will highlight urban education and inner city matters, specifically as they relate to educational research, policy, and practice. We have conducted an interview with her.
Please share your pen name
Angelise M. Rouse , PhD.
What is the name of your most recent book?
The King Inside: Practical Advice for Young African-American Males
How did you come up with the name?
Our young men must realize that it is, in fact, a “jungle” out there, but they have the tools within themselves to control their destiny. It is time for them to take their rightful place on the throne in their respective kingdoms.
Does the name have special meaning?
The impetus and title of this project stemmed from my dissertation research on the subject, as well as my oldest son Terrell’s favorite movie, Disney’s The Lion King. I believe he and I watched this movie more than 100 times during his childhood. For some reason, King Mufasa’s powerful message to his son Simba, the young prince, that there was a king inside of him resonated with me then, and still does today.
Why did you write the book?
The King Inside stems from a deeply rooted passion for empowering today's young African-American males with a practical game plan to guide them from adolescence through manhood. The success rate for the statics of young men comprising this demographic is utterly frightening. Whether we look at literacy, high school dropout, incarceration, repeat offenders, or death, the sheer volume of this “counted-out” group, should send shocks to the system of any adult human being, regardless of race, creed, or ethnicity. Readers will be given a foundation on several life skill areas which calls their decision-making into action. Topics such as family, education, mentorship, friendship, entrepreneurship, and finance as well as others are included to give young men an overall understanding of these critical life issues.
What do you want readers to take away from your book?
My objective is to motivate these young men with knowledge to succeed while navigating life’s challenges. This is not a project to elaborate on the negative aspects affecting this group in our communities. There is enough written about it by talented individuals who have worked with and studied this issue their entire careers. More importantly, there is plenty of hate, division, and negativity disproportionately targeted at young African-American males daily, and not enough general life knowledge that is common to us as adults. No one book can cover everything, however, I hope that The King Inside, strikes a chord with this demographic to help them become productive citizens, and accomplish their dreams and goals. It’s the least I can do!
Where can we purchase your book?
The King Inside: Practical Advice for Young African-American Males is available today on Amazon, Amazon-Kindle, iBook on iTunes and Barnes & Nobles.
Will there be a follow-up to the book? Do you have other publications?
I am currently working on my next publication which will highlight urban education and inner city matters, specifically as they relate to educational research, policy, and practice.
My first book, Especially4 Me: A Student’s Guide to Understanding the IEP was written to help promote self-advocacy for special education students.
More info:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rouse_dr
