story by Claire Miller
Rebecca Eswine focused her dissertation on special education teachers’ perspectives and experiences, and interviewed several such teachers in the process.
She was moved by what they shared with her and grateful she could showcase their insights in her scholarly writing.
“As a teacher within this community of educators, I understand that we are not always the ones who have the opportunity to tell our stories to others,” she said. “The educators in my study were incredible role models for advocacy, grace under pressure and a genuine love for their roles as special educators.”
Eswine was recognized for her academic achievements at the College of Education & Human Development’s annual Honors Day Ceremony on April 22.
She is the 2021 recipient of the Outstanding Dissertation Award in Curriculum and Instruction, given to an outstanding student in the curriculum and instruction doctoral program.
“I hope that with this award, others will have the opportunity to read my work, consider how students in self-contained classes may be positioned as outsiders within school communities, and actively make the choice to foster more opportunities for inclusive spaces for all learners within our buildings,” Eswine said.
For more information about this year’s Honors Day recipients, click here.