Date of Award
2025-5
Degree Name
PhD Education for Social Justice
Dissertation Committee
Reyes Quezada, EdD, Chair David Lambert, PhD, Member Emily Schell, EdD, Member
Keywords
knowledge work, curriculum thinking, ethnic studies, social studies, teacher agency
Abstract
The rapid expansion of policy-mandated ethnic studies (ES) in U.S. schools suggests the need to reconceptualize the field of ES for the school curriculum. This exploratory case study sought to contribute to a better understanding of the ways in which secondary ES curricula can be negotiated and made by teachers and their collaborators, illuminating its future possibilities in public schools. The research explored how teachers, academics, and ES graduate students collaborated in a Collective to use and relate various knowledge resources, including local oral histories, to develop community-focused ES curricular guidance. Little is known about the type of knowledge work and curriculum thinking required of educators who are capable of putting the conceptual aims of K–12 ES into practice. This study furthered the understanding of the capacity and preparedness of teachers to develop ES curricula that is reflective of both the academic field and educational ambitions. To this end, the research used Future 3 as a main conceptual frame, a heuristic devised to compare the approach to knowledge resources in contrasting curriculum scenarios. Data were generated from interviews, meeting recordings, and documentary analysis of created materials. Findings showcased how the Collective (a) used knowledge resources from in and beyond ES and (b) engaged in knowledge work and curriculum thinking. Also derived from the study was a set of guiding principles for Future 3 ES curriculum thinking. The research has implications for agentive, teacher-led curriculum making and for the preparation and development of ES teachers and teachers in general.
Document Type
Dissertation: Open Access
Department
Learning and Teaching
Digital USD Citation
León, Kelly, "Ethnic Studies for Secondary Schooling: Collaborative Curricular Insights from a Working Collective" (2025). Dissertations. 1056.
https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/1056
Copyright
Copyright held by the author
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Secondary Education Commons, Secondary Education and Teaching Commons
