This phenomenological dissertation explores the lived experiences of secondary social studies educators situated in the Appalachian region. Hermeneutic phenomenology was used as a philosophical and methodological approach to gather insights into this phenomenon. Interviews were conducted with three educators to capture their experiences from their childhoods, to their teaching careers, and into their current personal lives. These experiences were analyzed using a Whole-Part-Whole process to understand how they came to disrupt whiteness, the ways they did so, and their understanding of the impact disrupting whiteness for creating learning environments, developing curriculum and making instructional decisions. The findings revealed how these educators came to recognize the importance of acknowledging differences and race, and how they faced and navigated instances of racism and racist structures within the education system. The use of physics as a metaphor highlighted how educators disrupted whiteness through spatial disruptions, curriculum design, advocacy and activism, and creating an environment for students to question their understanding of racism. The implications for social studies education suggest the importance of directly exposing racist foundations, providing educators with instructional tools to disrupt problematic ideologies, and utilizing important resources. As teacher education continues to evolve, a focus on tapping into students' lived experiences can help students move closer to addressing the phenomenon in their future classrooms. Finally, an important part of growth could be seen within educators' discomfort and reflection. White people can begin their journey toward dismantling white supremacy by examining their privilege and power. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]