As social, racial, and environmental justice topics dominate national conversations, STEM teachers must provide learning opportunities that support students to make sense of these problems and co-construct hope for their futures (Calabrese-Barton et al., 2020; Ojala, 2012). Thinking about how teachers can begin to transform their classrooms into…

This study used a qualitative action research approach to engage a group of secondary English teachers in a collective inquiry to determine the best model for transformative teacher reflexivity and dialogue. Through solution-focused conversation, the goal was to design a sustainable framework for professional development that fosters creative,…

Teacher education has made strides towards preparing preservice teachers with ambitious visions and teaching practices through the use of core practices, specifically the Ambitious Science Teaching (AST) framework (e.g. Kang & Windschitl, 2018). However, there is an argument in the field about whether the AST framework can support…

The purpose of this study is to explore how teachers using culturally responsive instructional practices negotiate a high-stakes testing environment (HSTE). Culturally responsive pedagogy, an asset-based approach to improving student outcomes for marginalized students of color, has been established as an effective means of closing the 'opportunity…

The purpose of this study considers the intersections of education abroad and alumni engagement through a social justice lens. This research examines the "cultural imperative to systemic reform" (Kozaitis, 2013, p. 139) through the perspective of higher education's integration of education abroad as a core high-impact practice (Kuh,…

White people have a responsibility due to their complicity in White Supremacy, to practice antiracism in solidarity for racial justice with Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) people and communities. Antiracist education, which fosters this sort of work, necessitates learning about racism and Whiteness to comprehend the violence of White…

This descriptive qualitative study was designed to understand the experiences of former Community Psychology (CP) undergraduate students who participated in a degree program at a California university. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how former Community Psychology undergraduate students describe their experiences using…

In November 2020, the school board governing Patinmay Public Schools (PPS) passed a policy change requiring ethnic studies coursework to graduate. For several years, numerous people have worked to make ethnic studies a possibility for all students. My story with ethnic studies in PPS, however, began more recently in August 2020. Utilizing methods…

This action research study honors teacher-as-researcher and utilizes qualitative methods of data collection alongside emergent design to study arts-integrated teaching and learning at a mid-sized Midwestern university in a social studies methods course. The thinking and learning of both pre-service teachers and the teacher educator/researcher are…

Caste-based discrimination persists as a formidable barrier within Indian higher education, compelling Dalit students to employ university spaces not only for learning but as arenas for activism and social change. This dissertation explores the agency of Dalit students as they confront and dismantle systemic inequalities through strategic…

A number of social and ecological justice educators have long recognized the need for educational institutions to foster the development of a critical interest in civic engagement. They also have recognized the lack of appropriate education for students who are already civically engaged. One popular way to address this context in higher education…

This study aims to examine Black educators' experiences within cultural heritage institutions that are documenting topics that include the long arc of the American Civil Rights Movement. Black educators are powerful conduits of the African American story because they align with African American cultural heritage institution's goals to foster…

This dissertation, "A Need to Teach Differently: Storied Experiences of Transformative Educators in Nigerian Special Education," explored the narratives of educators who have significantly impacted the special education landscape in Nigeria. The study aimed to highlight the motivations, challenges, and transformative practices of these…

The adult learner population attending higher education has been on the rise for decades and is continuing to exceed expectations in regards to enrollments. However, today's higher education institutions still cater to traditional age learners when creating and delivering curricula. By incorporating social justice courses into the curriculum,…

This study focuses on bridging the gap in the literature as it relates to the use of social justice pedagogy as a proactive means by which to address the achievement gap, inherent biases, and deficit views of low-socioeconomic, African American students in today's schools. Research questions for the study are as follows: 1) What practices within…