This dissertation uses sociocultural linguistics to investigate how Black undergraduates at a Historically White Institution (HWI) understand Blackness, and how their racial socialization experiences in their pre-college years inform that perspective. This project reveals that many Black undergraduates in the HWI context may not have the benefit…

Measures of academic engagement and disruptive behavior in students are strong predictors of social, academic, and lifelong career outcomes. Educators need a measurement tool that is feasible, accurate, and cost-effective in order to identify students who may be in need of additional behavioral support. Direct Behavior Ratings (DBRs) offer a…

In this dissertation, I investigate the learning of inclusive mathematics teaching as a process of mathematics teacher identity development. Current research on teacher learning in teacher education often uses situated perspectives that have contributed knowledge about the ways that contexts impact preservice teachers' learning of beliefs and…

In this dissertation, I explore the educational experiences and opportunities of youth, ages 15-30, in Solomon Islands. Based on research at two secondary schools in Solomon Islands and the communities surrounding them, this project examines the challenges young people face when pursuing secondary schooling and the cultural values that motivate…

This mixed-methods research study investigates Pakistani Muslim American immigrant two mother-daughter dyads' styles of social interactions (inclusive of the content of social interactions) during three virtual museum visits designed to contribute to their ethnic identities. Data were collected from (1) qualitative significant anecdotes; (2)…

The purpose of this dissertation is to reflect on and make sense of my practice as a teacher educator. As a response to the growing field of self-study research in the field of teacher education, my study answers the following question: What is my lived experience as a White teacher educator? This research took place during the student teaching…

This qualitative, autoethnographic study sought to understand how multiracial men working in higher education staff roles described their experiences of racial identity. Eight participants, staff members at various higher education institutions across the United States, comprised the study population, including the study author. I conducted…

Virtual Reality (VR) has been found useful to improve engagement and retention level of students, for some topics, compared to traditional learning tools such as books, and videos. However, a student could still get distracted and disengaged due to a variety of factors including stress, mind-wandering, unwanted noise, external alerts, and internal…

The current study investigated the ways that school districts in Missouri identified homeless and highly mobile students. A mixed methods data strategy was employed. A survey was sent to a sample of Missouri school districts to determine if identification practices were related to district demographics. Logistic regressions showed that district…

Research suggests discrepancies between principals of color and White principals in their motivations and reflections on racism and how it shapes their philosophies, practice, and persistence in leading schools in historically underserved urban communities. Several scholars have discussed the pivotal role of early racial identity experiences in…

Past and current research has explored the link between the "blackness" of a person's name and socioeconomic outcomes in American society. Black-sounding names were shown to influence employment prospects, access to credit markets, and choice of housing among other opportunities. While education research had identified a relationship…

Race-based trauma (RBT) negatively impacts the physical and psychological well-being of the Black community. RBT literature is confined to scholarly journals rarely accessed by the people who will benefit most from awareness. This dissertation aimed to fill the gap in qualitative research examining the experiences of Black people impacted by RBT.…

The problem investigated in this study was that, despite professional development (PD) training, elementary teachers at a school district in the western United States are challenged in instructing students with dyslexia. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate teachers' perceptions of the challenges of instructing students…

This study investigated the extent to which preschool teachers have been prepared to recognize students with potential learning needs. The ability of these teachers to recognize students with learning needs and provide appropriate support or referrals is critical for the success of the students. Through this research, several insights have emerged…

Within the field of TESOL, representation in research and pedagogical knowledge has overwhelming been representative of the White educator's narrative. Lack of representation of voices from teachers of color serves to further marginalize the experience of this group and delegitimize the knowledge and expertise that they bring to their professional…