Alison Munzer

UC Los Angeles
alison.munzer@gmail.com

My connection to K-12 teaching and education began when I taught elementary school for 5 years in South Los Angeles. During my time teaching kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade I also served as an instructional coach for some of my colleagues. We engaged in the praxis cycle, which inspired me to go to graduate school and increase my understanding of the educational theories we employed as well as cultivate more rigorous research skills. As a doctoral student at UCLA, my research focuses on Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) with in-service elementary school teachers. With a cohort of 4 teachers, we explored the fundamentals of CSP and how to translate that theory into practice in their classrooms. I hope to continue research with in-service elementary school teachers that focuses on developing explicit CSP teaching strategies, lessons, and activities.