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…

This study examined how White, female U.S. community and technical college educators develop and sustain an antiracist praxis. In the context of this study, antiracist praxis was defined as the ability for White educators to engage in consistent cycles of critical self-reflection about race and demonstrating antiracist actions. Semi-structured…

Antiracist teacher education in the United States has largely been situated within university-based teacher education programs over the last thirty years. This body of research documents the struggles and possibilities of preparing race-conscious educators who engage in antiracist practices that support diverse student populations. Despite this…

This dissertation is an extended prescription for the inclusion of social justice in high school biology (HSB) curricula. Chapter 1 is context: a review of social injustice (mainly racism) in the US, and the specious scientific justifications for it. Chapter 2 explores how three veteran teachers introduce social justice in HSB classes. A…

Racial segregation continues to impact school systems across the United States. In addition to this racial segregation, explicit racist events within schools and at school events have been documented in this country in recent years. In response to these racist acts, zero-tolerance practices tend to be the automatic disciplinary action for the…

This study evaluated whether an intervention on implicit bias would mitigate police academy recruits' implicit associations and color-blind racial ideology. The police recruits' racial attitudes were tested before and after the completion of the implicit bias training. Their implicit associations on Race, Skin-Tone, and Weapons were tested as…

European colonization of vast portions of the world has left its mark long after the point when most societies were supposedly freed. The coloniality of power has ensured the continuing dominance of Eurocentric ideologies in the form of racism, sexism, and the marginalization of Black and Indigenous knowledge production. In this dissertation…

Mindfulness has woven through American education for decades as an enduring concept aimed at reforming teachers, students, and classrooms. Signified as a "quiet revolution" in media and education policy today, our youth have been rebranded and schools remarketed as "A Nation at Hope," with promises of mindfulness and…

This dissertation takes up the topic of simulations in social studies education. Though simulations are taken up widely by social studies educators, and though they are described as best practice in social studies standards documents and teacher evaluation rubrics, the term lacks specificity. Additionally, design, research, and implementation…

As school districts become increasingly racially diverse, minorities remain practically invisible in the role of superintendent; specifically, Black women. Historical analysis depicts the superintendency as a White male-dominated position and highlights significant challenges experienced by women in the field. Literature available on the topic of…

White space in the educational system is an attitude, environment, ideology dominated by the white dominant voice and creed. This white space intimidates and oppresses Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) students, not only physically but mentally and emotionally. This research provides solutions to help instructors decenter white space. In…