John Traynor

John Traynor is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Gonzaga University. His research focuses on Middle School Education, School/Community Partnerships, and the Social/Cultural Foundations of Education, with a strong emphasis on Civic Engagement and Jesuit educational principles.

• Ph.D., Culture Studies and Social Thought in Education, Washington State University
• M.I.T., Social Studies Endorsement, Seattle University
• B.A., Political Science, University of Washington

Dr. Traynor's research explores the intersection of teacher training, community engagement, and middle-level education reform. He has led initiatives like the Hillyard Youth Collaborative and Collaborative Schools for Innovation and Success, emphasizing school-university partnerships and equity-driven practices.

His publications from 2013–2019 highlight collaborative teacher training models, service-learning frameworks, and middle school reform strategies, often addressing educational equity and community-based solutions. Key themes include civic engagement, K-12 partnerships, and socio-cultural contexts in education.

Grants awarded to Dr. Traynor include funding from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Environmental Protection Agency, and Inland Northwest Community Foundation, supporting projects like the Gonzaga’s Center for Climate, Society and the Environment Climate Literacy Project and youth engagement programs.

Dr. Traynor is also an avid outdoorsman, passionate about skiing, biking, and fly fishing, often integrating environmental education into his work through partnerships like the Sierra Club’s Building Bridges to the Outdoors Project.