Expertise:
Education:Doctorate of Philosophy (2020)
University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee Urban Education, Curriculum and Instruction Masters of Science (2014) University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Cultural Foundations of Education Concentration: Multicultural Education and Arts Education Bachelor of Arts (2011) University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Drawing & Painting, Spanish Language & Art History |
As a third-generation early childhood educator, Crystasany R. Turner, PhD served over a decade as a preschool teacher and administrator in her family’s childcare business—now a nationally accredited early care and education program. Her philosophy and classroom practice are rooted in the pedagogy of care that was demonstrated by her grandmother. In her years serving as a language and arts educator within Milwaukee’s K-12 classrooms, she aimed to honor students’ various ways of expression, while fostering an appreciation for cultural and linguistic pluralism.
Crystasany's research and scholarship include topics of generational healing in Communities of Color, culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy in early childhood education, Black feminist epistemologies, and the counternarratives of Teachers and Students of Color. She is especially committed to the narratives of Black and Latina women as they care for and raise children while standing at the intersection of race, gender, and various social locations. Her experiences within urban education inspired Crystasany's doctoral research explores the roles of Black women family childcare providers during times of community hardship. Through a multiple case study grounded in Black feminist epistemology, Crystasany explored how Black women early care and education professionals engaged in the work of “activist mothering” to support young Black children and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. To guide her work, Crystasany developed a culturally relevant research model, called Endarkened Feminist Narrative (EFN), to critically unveil the unique yet underrepresented epistemologies of Black women. Her study adds to the body of research illuminating the ways Communities of Color navigate and resist inequitable health care, education, and socio-economic systems that would keep them exposed and disenfranchised during the current national health crisis. During her doctoral career, Crystasany served as a graduate research assistant with UW-Milwaukee’s Asset-based Cultural Competence Ensuring Student Success (ACCESS) Grant. ACCESS was a U.S. Department of Education Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) Grant that focused on the professional development of experienced teachers in culturally responsive pedagogy. In this position, Crystasany gained a comprehensive understanding of the current literature around how to serve diverse student populations, foster inclusive education environments, and develop culturally responsive educators. Further, she has developed and implemented numerous professional development sessions for faculty around diversity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices. In 2020, Crystasany lead an initiative to re-conceptualize UW-Milwaukee’s Urban Education program curriculum to better align with their mission of integrating diversity, inclusion, and equitable practices throughout their coursework. Through publications, conference presentations, and grant research, Crystasany actively shares her scholarly findings to contribute to the body of research highlighting the experiences of diverse groups of children and educators. |
