03/22/2022
By Lizzie Casanave
The School of Education invites you to attend an Ed.D. Dissertation Defense by Hannah Tolla on “Perspectives on Educational Equity: Teacher-Student Racial Mismatch in a Suburban School District.”
Date: Monday, April 4
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: This will be a virtual dissertation defense via Zoom. Those interested in attending should contact Phitsamay_Uy@uml.edu to request access to the Zoom link.
Dissertation Chair: Phitsamay Uy, Ed.D., Associate Professor, School of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Dissertation Committee:
- Robai Werunga, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Elizabeth Zumpe, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Abstract:
Despite an increasingly diverse student body across the United States, and particularly in Massachusetts, where this study is based, the educator workforce does not represent the same level of diversity. This racial mismatch contributes to implicit bias and ultimately disparate outcomes for students of color. While some research has been done on educator-student racial mismatch, there has been less research done on the Hispanic-White mismatch and there is very limited research that has been conducted in affluent suburbs. A case study was conducted, using available existing demographic data, observations of teacher-student interactions, and previously administered surveys to determine how to help build critical consciousness in a predominantly white school district.