As the 21st century unfolds, the world has become increasingly fast-paced, interconnected and unpredictable compared to previous generations (McChrystal, et al., 2015). As a result, education researchers and practitioners must be prepared for the challenge of helping students better apply their knowledge to respond to the complex and novel…

To secure the economic well-being of our country in the current global society, we must be concerned with all students, and all means all. This qualitative research study asserts the need to stop focusing on the achievement gap and work to close opportunity gaps through equitable school practices. This narrative inquiry study critically analyzed…

Patriarchal ideologies and structures helped to shape the public school institution at the onset of compulsory education in the United States and continue to circulate within educational discourses today, causing harmful consequences for the workforce made up of mostly women that is tasked with educating our nation's youth (Jones, 2020, Accepted…

Education has always been attached to the "American Dream," an abstract concept built from the ashes of conquest and capitalism. The dream is one of property and privacy, money and power, the ability to live a life free from obstacles. However, the American dream isn't complete without an antagonist. For a long time the antagonist has…

Dual language bilingual education (DLBE) programs, which teach content knowledge in English and a partner language, have shown promise in attaining academic achievement, bilingualism/biliteracy, and sociocultural competence. Recently, scholars have argued for adding critical consciousness as a foundational goal to challenge the hegemonic…

This dissertation and research study is dedicated to the exploration of "critical posthuman educational technology." Research in this study determines, evaluates, and considers educational technology in U.S. art museums through a wide-reaching survey and case study evaluations of the implementation of digital content creation in museums…

Critical race theory has challenged whose truth is told in schools (Lynn & Parker, 2006). Private schools belonging to the National Association of Independent Schools have questioned what truth is taught in their schools ("NAIS -- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging," n.d.). Concurrently, these schools face declining…

This dissertation seeks to address limitations of Practice-Based Teacher Education (PBTE) in relation to (1) narrow conceptions of practice and teacher learning, and (2) peripheralization of equity and justice. After aiming to understand the landscape of limitations in PBTE, this study situates itself within specific manifestations of these…

The three studies included in this dissertation collectively aim to highlight the negative impact that culturally homogenous academic, social, and financial systems on college campuses have on the experiences of culturally diverse college students. Currently the academic, social, and financial experiences of college students are not structured to…

This dissertation investigates the challenge of translating theoretical knowledge into practical application regarding collaborative practices in secondary schools, specifically focusing on principals' leadership roles. Conducted in accredited middle and high schools in South Carolina's Lowcountry region during the 2023-2024 academic year, the…

This study applies critical theory to examine the relationship that exists between teachers and students in the classroom and whether the classroom is a microcosm of social injustice, replicating the inequities between those in a position of power and those that are subject to them. The purpose of the study was to expose gaps in current practices…

This grounded theory, constant comparative method study provides a Critical Race Institutional Logics Perspective account of Latina teacher sensemaking of distance learning. Distance learning--while not a particularly new school initiative, school reform effort, or organizational change--brought forth an organizational change that unmasked racist…

The disproportionate number of African Americans in special education has been an issue receiving a lot of attention throughout the years. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine influencing factors contributing to the disproportionate number of African Americans in special education being served. This qualitative research study…

The title for the project, "Eloquence in Talke and Vertue in Deedes," comes from educational theorist William Kempe's claim that the early modern humanist educational system was guaranteed to produce eloquence and virtue. It is, however, my argument that the educational failed in its promises. This project seeks to dissect the…

The problem was the lack of SEL and social presence practices in online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused student engagement to decline. The purpose was to explore educator perceptions of how SEL social presence practices affect student engagement during the transition from traditional learning. Grounded in social constructivism…