Education Research & Work

My independent research specifically examines the experiences of Black families in K-12 education, focusing on the systemic barriers they face, their acts of resistance, and their creation of affirming learning space. I see this work as one way to disrupt antiblackness and reimagine education and the world. You can read more about the range of my work experiences here.

“What I most admire is Rachel’s commitment to justice—in her research she centers Black families, resists deficit framings, and builds affirming spaces for learning. She doesn’t just talk about equity; she embodies it.”

Dr. Monique Liston, Founder of UBUNTU Research & Evaluation

Publications

Homeschooling: A Site of Freedom and Constraints for Black Families

August 2022 — University of Wisconsin, Madison

Book Review: Exploring Single Black Mothers’ Resistance Through Homeschooling

May 3 2022 —Teachers College Record

No Choice Is the “Right” Choice: Black Parents’ Educational Decision-Making in Their Search for a “Good” School

April 20 2021 — Harvard Education Press