I often wonder how one’s relationship with spatial dimensions of place shapes one’s identity. As a result, I am interested in cultivating learning spaces where one’s rich historical and cultural narrative can be fostered, preserved, and sustained through socially just transformative paradigms and place-based pedagogies.
Education
Ph.D. Educational and Community-based
Action Research
Candidate, ABD
University of Cincinnati
2021, expected
M.A. Educational Studies for Social Change
Concentration in Teacher Action Research
University of Cincinnati
2016
B.A. Political Science
Indiana University
2011
Fellowships
Brandeis University's The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center Doctoral Fellowship
Doctoral Fellow
Brandeis University
2020-2021
The Graduate Student Government Research Fellowship for the Advancement of Diversity Research
Fellow
University of Cincinnati
2019
Research Fellowship
Fellow
Arlitt Child & Family Research & Education Center
University of Cincinnati
2014-2016
TALMA Teaching Fellowship
Fellow
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Foundation
2014
REALITY Teacher-Leadership Fellowship
Fellow
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Foundation
2012
IU at Oxford Fellowship
Undergraduate Fellow
Saïd Business School | University of Oxford
O'Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs
Indiana University
2010
Teaching & Educational Leadership
Asynchronous & Synchronous Settings
I began my career in kindergarten-fifth grade special education and preschool classrooms before moving toward teacher education and professional development where I support pre-service and in-service teachers in their praxis and practitioner development using in-person and online practices through asynchronous and synchronous learning settings.
In person or online, I believe professional development should be fun (yes, I said fun!), playful, vibrant, and meaningful. I design workshops that help teachers and learners activate their inquiry and curiosity to reflect and study their own practice.
Hebrew Union College - Los Angeles
Teacher & Program Design Team Leader for DeLet Master's in Teaching
June 2021 - Present
Course
-
Practitioner Inquiry (Practitioner Action Research)
University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
Teacher/Adjunct
June 2021 - July 2021
Course
-
ARTE7002 Visual Arts Research Methods
Mandel Teacher Educator Institute
Graduate Assistant
Support national professional development workshops for teachers and educators on design-based thinking and playful learning with the direction of Dr. Jeff Stanzler and Dr. Miriam Raider-Roth
May 2017 - Present
Sessions Taught
-
Following the Child: Project-based Learning for Asynchronous and Synchronous Settings (online)
-
Design-Thinking for Educators Series 1 & 2 (in-person)
-
Simulation for Empathy Building through Role Play (in-person)
-
Creating an Interactive Digital Notebook using Google Slides (online)
-
Practitioner Action Research: Group Level Assessment (in-person)
-
Group Level Assessment: Creating Organization Change through Action Research (online)
-
Future Creating Workshop: Creating Organizational Change through Action Research (online)
Jarson Educational Center
Adath Israel Congregation
Second Grade Teacher
Cincinnati, OH
August 2018 - present
University of Cincinnati
Teacher Assistant to Dr. Miriam Raider-Roth
Cincinnati, OH
June 2016 - 2019
Teacher Research Certification - Mandel Teacher Educator Institute & University of Cincinnati
(blended learning)
EDST7043 (Graduate) Practitioner Action Research I (blended learning)
EDST7053 (Graduate) Practitioner Action Research II
(in-person)
EDST7040 (Graduate) Relational Cultural Theory
(in-person)
Teacher of Record
June 2016 - August 2017
MDL3001 (Undergraduate) Middle Childhood Social Studies Certificate
(online)
August 2014 - August 2016
EDST1001 (Undergraduate) Introduction to Education
(in-person)
Breakthrough Cincinnati
Summer Site Director
Cincinnati, OH
May 2017 - August 2017
Summer Instructional Coach
Cincinnati, OH
June 2016 - August 2017
Arlitt Child & Family Research & Education Center
Early Childhood Associate Teacher
Cincinnati, Ohio
June 2014 - August 2016
Aliza Begin Primary School
Fourth Grade Summer English Instructor
Schusterman Family Foundation and Israeli Ministry of Education Initiative
Migdal HaEmek, Israel
June 2014 - August 2014
Dawson Elementary School
Elementary Special Education Teacher
Scotland Neck, North Carolina
August 2011 - August 2013
Related Teaching Leadership Positions & Initiatives
-
Exceptional Children’s Elementary Chairperson for the Southeast District, 2011-2013
-
Transition Team Leader for Teach For America, 2012
-
Special Olympics Assistant Coordinator for Halifax County Public Schools, 2012
-
Member of Teach For America’s Corps Member On-boarding Task Force, 2012
-
President of Halifax County’s Autism Problem-Solving Team, 2012
-
Creator of IEP Goal Progress Monitor utilized by Halifax County's Exceptional Children’s Department, 2012
-
Creator of Skype In the Classroom: Global Awareness Initiative at Dawson Elementary School, 2012
-
Founder of Dawson Elementary School’s Global Awareness for Student’s Advancement in International Studies Committee, 2012
-
Creator and Team Leader of Dawson Elementary School’s Beautification Project, 2012
-
Coordinator of Sustainable School Gardens Project at Dawson Elementary School, 2012
-
Coordinator and Artist of Read into Art: A Mural Art Project at Dawson Elementary School, 2012
Curriculum & Evaluation
Asynchronous & Synchronous Settings
Rooted in values of integrity, empathy, and social justice, I seek to develop curriculum and evaluation systems that are transformational in theory, practice, and leadership.
Breakthrough Cincinnati
Curriculum and Evaluation Director
breakthroughcincinnati.org
August 2017 - October 2020
Co-Developed an asynchronous and synchronous distance learning summer academic enrichment program for approximately 220 6th-9th grade students.
Co-Trained undergraduate teaching fellows in modern education strategies, including platforms FlipGrid, Zoom, Padlet, Poll Everywhere, Kahoot!, and Quizizz. Online culture building, engagement and assessment/evaluation strategies also addressed.
Breakthrough Collaborative (National)
Project-Based Learning and Online Learning Consultant
May 2020 - June 2020
Designed asynchronous and synchronous distance learning project-based learning and challenge-based resources for 22 national affiliates for 5th-12th graders.
Digital Playscape
STEAM & STEM Curriculum Designer
May 2018 - August 2019
CPS Strong: Cincinnati Public Schools
Evaluation Toolkit Developer
April 2019 - August 2020
Next Lives Here
Assessment and Evaluation STEM Consultant
National Science Foundation INCLUDES Award
November 2017 - June 2019
Breakthrough Collaborative (National)
Writing and Literature Curriculum and Assessment Consultant
January 2019 - April 2019
GE Aviation Educational Outreach
Project-Based Learning STEM
Curriculum Consultant
May 2016 - May 2018
Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative Middle School Multidisciplinary STEM Curriculum Consultant
May 2016 - May 2017
University of Cincinnati’s High School Scholars Academy
Education Technology Curriculum Consultant
May 2016 - May 2017
University of Cincinnati’s Undergraduate Educational Studies Program
Instructional Designer
May 2015 - August 2017
Within Jewish Education
Jewish Education Center of Cleveland
Project-Based Learning and Online Learning Curriculum Consultant
September 2020 - present
Developed an educational technology toolkit for teachers and learners in Day School settings to support remote, blended, and hybrid learning. Provide follow-up consultation, trainings, tutorials, and professional development sessions.
La'-Briut: Trauma-Informed Curriculum
Designer
May 2020 - present
Reaching more than 10,000 students and 200 schools, I along with a team of five educators, developed a national six five-week modules (30 weeks total) asynchronous and synchronous K-6th grade trauma-informed value-based curriculum utilizing project-based learning principles and virtual educational platforms (FlipGrid and Zoom).
Beth Adam Congregational School
Project-Based Learning and Online Learning Consultant
May 2020 - present
Developing an asynchronous and synchronous virtual student-driven trauma-informed learning community for K-5th grade.
Jarson Educational Center
Project-based Learning Curriculum Consultant
August 2017 - June 2020
Center for Excellence in Part-Time Jewish Education
Project-Based Learning Consultant
January 2020 - April 2020
Design
As a designer and playologist, I support individuals, parents, teachers, leaders, and organizations to harness the power of play by designing aesthetically attuned playscapes. Spaces that spark JOY, WONDER, and PLAY.
ish: Driving Cincinnati Jew & Israeli Arts and Culture
Director of Creative Design & Impact
Cincinnati, OH
2020 - Present
Lead Facilitator & Curriculum Designer for the Emerging Artist Fellowship
Cincinnati, OH
2020 - Present
The Jewish Foundation
Think/Action Lab Facilitator
Cincinnati, OH
2021 - Present
Contemporary Arts Center
UnMuseum Spatial Play and Learning Design Consultant
Cincinnati, OH
2019 - 2020
University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine
OBGYN Department
Playful Learning Consultant
Cincinnati, OH
January 2020
University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine
National Academy of Medicine Art Exhibit on Clinician Resilience
Playful Learning Consultant
Cincinnati, OH
February 2020
Digital Playscape
Playologist and Designer
Cincinnati, OH
May 2019 - August 2019
Research & Grants
To resist structural and systemic injustice, I use a participatory action research (AR) paradigm to help bring the realities, voices, struggles, and triumphs of the oppressed to mainstream discourse around social issues. I believe to use research to make a difference in the world, we have to do research with people rather than on people. By bringing less visible groups and their knowledge ‘to the table,’ in new configurations, shifts power imbalances, and makes space for real change to happen.
As an action researcher, I work to co-create democratic, non-hierarchical research environments where we can design, generate, and construct knowledge, discovery, and understanding together, resulting in rich explanations and interpretations, and ultimately positive social change.
Currently, I am engaged in research projects exploring the following areas: homeplace and homemaking as places for identity development; growth-fostering relationships within learning communities; and culturally sustainable pedagogies of place.
Internal
Teaching During COVID-19: Interviews with Teachers Shifting to Asynchronous & Synchronous Learning
Grant Writer
University of Cincinnati CECH Grant for the Scholarly Advancement of Diversity & Inclusion
Awarded $2,000
November 2019 - present
Study to Assess Impact of Computational Thinking for Adolescents Attending Out-Of-School-Time STEAM Programming
Grant Writer, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator
University of Cincinnati CECH Technology and Instructional Design Grant
Awarded $1,900
February 2019 - present
University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine
National Academy of Medicine Art Exhibit on Clinician Resilience: Studying UCCM's Culture of Resiliency Using Social Fabric Method
Social Fabric Method Consultant
Supported data collection from 46 UCCM medical staff members and residents on UCCM's culture of resiliency and wellbeing using a participatory arts-based research method
February 2020
Breakthrough Cincinnati is a TRIIIBE!: Educational technology to support high schoolers in sharing their voice with community stakeholders
Grant Writer, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator
University of Cincinnati CECH Technology and Instructional Design Grant
Awarded $2,000
February 2018 - August 2018
I/Voice: Curriculum Design Using Virtual Reality to Create Social Change with Middle School Students
Grant Writer, Principal Investigator, & Curriculum Designer
University of Cincinnati CECH Technology and Instructional Grant
Awarded $2,000
February 2018 - August 2018
“Black Lives Matter”: Participatory Curriculum Design Using Youth Participatory Action Research Project to Address Gun Violence
Co-researcher & Curriculum Designer
June 2016 to September 2016
Systemic Action Research for School Change: A Collaborative Action Research Partnership
with Parents, Students, and Teachers to Design Multidisciplinary STEM Curriculum
Teacher Action Research Facilitator & Curriculum Designer
University of Cincinnati CECH Community Relations Grant Program
Directors of Research, Dr. Brydon-Miller
Awarded $8,000
October 2015 to March 2016
Using Big Data to Track Arlitt Student Kindergarten Success
Research Assistant & Grant Writer
Arlitt Best Practices in Teaching Research Grant
Principal Investigators, Dr. Maltbie and Dr. Lee
Awarded $3,000
September 2014 to May 2016
Capturing the Food Environment of Low-Income Mothers
Photovoice Co-Facilitator & Research Assistant
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Grant
Principal Investigator, Dr. Vaughn
Awarded $13,000
November 2015 to January 2016
Photovoice with Preschoolers: A Teacher Action Research Project
Action Researcher & Grant Writer
University of Cincinnati CECH Technology and Instructional Design Grant
Principal Investigators, Dr. Maltbie and Dr. Carr
Awarded $2,000
August 2015 to May 2016
Exclusion within Inclusion: The Social Experiences of Preschool Children with IEPs in an Inclusive Preschool
Principal Investigator & Grant Writer
Arlitt Best Practices in Teaching Research Grant
Awarded $1,800
October 2014 - May 2015
External
Creating a Thriving Inclusive Jewish Ecosystem: An Action Research Project
Co-Principal Investigator
Awarded $900,000 from the Jim Joseph Foundation's Jewish Teen Initiative and The Jewish Foundation
December 2020 - Present
Studying the Learning Trajectories of Jewish Educators Enrolled in a Two-Year Professional Development Program: An Action Research Study
Co-Principal Investigator with Dr. Miriam Raider-Roth
October 2019 - Present
Portraits of Pre-Service Teachers and their Experience with Co-Creating Holding Environments in a Summer Academic Enrichment Program
Principal Investigator
May 2019 - Present
Digital Playscape: STEAM Center for Social Impact and Community Outreach in the Greater Cincinnati Area
Grant Writer, Co-Director, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator
People’s Liberty Globe Grant
Awarded $15,000
November 2018 - August 2019
Public Health Disparities Impacting Youth in Cincinnati
Youth Participatory Action Research Methodologist
National Institute of Health’s Science Education Partnership Award
Trained Youth to be Community Change Researchers
May 2018 - December 2018
Outside In: Incorporating Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality to Teach 6th Grade Ohio State Standards Using an Integrated STEAM Curriculum
Grant Writer & Curriculum Designer
The Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative
Awarded $4,000
2018 to Present
Redesigning Shade Structures: Collaboration with Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens to Teach 7th Grade Ohio State Standards Using an Integrated STEAM Curriculum
Grant Writer & Curriculum Designer
The Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative
Awarded $3,800
Pi in the Sky: Coding Raspberry Pi Computers to Teach 7th Grade Ohio State Standards Using an Integrated STEAM Curriculum
Grant Writer & Curriculum Designer
The Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative
Awarded $4,000
Publications
Lester, A.L. & Mishkin, S. (2019) Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Mandel Teacher Educators Go to School. EJewish Philanthropy.
Arthur, B., Boehr, C., Carlson, S, Deters, A., Lester, A.J., Raider-Roth, M., Theurer, P., & Tyler, S. (2019, accepted). "Relational Mentoring and the Centrality of Self-care," in Mentoring in Higher Education: Case Studies of Peer Learning and Pedagogical Development, Woolhouse, C. & Nicholson, L. (Eds.), Palgrave Macmillan: United Kingdom
Wight, A., Lester, A., & Shannon-Baker, P. (2019, in review). Poetry as Truth: DeSchooling the USA, AERA, & Ivan Illich SIG. International Journal of Illich Studies.
Lester, A. & Sparough, G. (2020, in development). Social Fabric Method: Introducing a New Participatory Action Research Method for Community Engagement and Evaluation. Journal of Participatory Research Methods.
Lester, A. (2020, in development). Deepening Virtual Connections: Developing a Relational Learning Community Online. Voices of Practitioners.
Presentations
International
Poetry as Truth - DeSchooling the USA, AERA, & Ivan Illich
Wight, R. A., Lester, A.J., Shannon-Baker, P., & Jorgenson, S.
American Educational Association Annual Meeting
Toronto, Canada
2019
Spelunking with Plato: On Grottos, Grog, and Great Media Issues
Spence, E., Lester, P.M., Elliott, D., Black, J., Brislin, T., & Lester, A.J.
A Night of Ethics
Sydney, Australia
2002
National
Using Group-Level Assessment to Amplify Student Voice in a Summer Academic Enrichment Program for Adolescents
Lester, A.J.
American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
New York City, NY
2018
Action Research Next Level: Mixed Methods Mayhem: Teacher AR Creation: Poetry Performance Pedagogical Praxis
Wight, R.A., Lester, A.J., & Shannon-Baker, P.
American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
New York City, NY
2018
Eco-Poetry as Performative, Practice, Pedagogy, and Praxis: New Metho-Theoretical-Propositions and the Surging Hedonisticon Xn
Lester, A.J., Wight, R.A., & Shannon-Baker, P. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
San Antonio, TX
2016
Photovoice in Focus: Preschoolers with (dis)Abilities as Co-Researchers
Lester, A.J.
American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
San Antonio, TX
2016
Through the Lens of Teacher Research: Digital Photography in a Preschool Classroom
Lester, A.J.
American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
San Antonio, TX
2016
DeSchool the ICQI: Poetry for Action
Lester, A.J. & Wight, R.A.
International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry
Champaign-Urbana, IL
2016
Preschoolers as Co-researchers & The Participatory Action Research Ethics
Lester, A.J.
Associated for Practical and Professional Ethics Annual Meeting
Washington, DC
2016
The Social Experiences of Early Childhood Children with IEPs: Supporting Inclusivity, Digital Tools
Lester, A.J.
International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry
Champaign-Urbana, IL
2015
The Ethics of Photovoice with Young Children: A Roundtable Discussion
Lester, A.J.
Association for Practical and Professional Ethics Annual Meeting
Costa Mesa, CA
2015
The Ethical Dilemmas Embedded in National Service Programs: A Case Study of Teach(ing) For America
Lester, A.J.
Association for Practical and Professional Ethics Annual Meeting
Jacksonville, FL
2014
Regional
Re-imagining New Worlds: The Future of Digital Art
Lester, A.J.
Contemporary Arts Center
Cincinnati, OH
2019
See(n) & Hear(d): Sharing stories of access & equity for people with (dis)abilities
Lester, A.J.
Art Exhibit
The Space Cabin
Cincinnati, OH
2018
Teacher Inquiry: Understanding Exclusion within Inclusion for Children with IEPs
Lester, A.J. & Horowitz, J.
4C for Children: Annual Conference
Cincinnati, OH
2015
What am I not seeing?: Supporting Peer Inclusion for Young Children with (Dis)Abilities through Teacher Inquiry and Photovoice
Lester, A.J. & Horowitz, J.
Arlitt Research Symposium
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
2015
Teacher Action Research: Photovoice with Preschoolers
Lester, A.J. & Horowitz, J.
Action Research Center Research Symposium
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
2015
Exclusion within Inclusion: A Teacher Inquiry Case Study Using Mixed Method Research and Participatory Photo Inquiry
Lester, A.J. & Horowitz, J.
Student Research Conference
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY
2015
Photovoice with Young Children: A Teacher Action Research Case Study
Lester, A.J. & Horowitz, J.
Practitioner Research Showcase
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
2015
The Social Experiences of Early Childhood for Children with IEPs: Supporting Inclusivity
Lester, A.J. & Horowitz, J.
Diversity Day Conference
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
2015
In Media
Brandeis Doctoral Fellows
Press Release
2020
JEC develops curriculum for children’s resiliency during pandemic
Cleveland Jewish News
2020
Teaching During COVID-19: Advice for Parents Homeschooling
Ohio Voices, Spectrum News
2020
STE(A)M Educator Allison Lester On Creating Space for Learning
The Distiller Podcast. Episode 42.
2019
Service
Institutional Service
Journal of Participatory Research
Reviewer
August 2020 - present
Journal of Educational Action Research Reviewer
May 2014 - present
Journal of American Educational Research Association
Reviewer
January 2014 - present
Journal of Special Education and Remedial Education
Reviewer
May 2016 - present
University Service
Student Organization for Action Research
Co-Founder and President
2015 to present
Graduate Association for Teacher Assistants
Member
2014 to present
Community Service
Red Cross of Cincinnati
Volunteer
2014-2016
United Way of Cincinnati
Volunteer
2014-2016
Fair Trade Global Gifts
Volunteer Coordinator
2008-2011
Positive Link
HIV/AIDS Adolescent Educational Coordinator
2007-2009
Board Memberships
Havayah Board of Directors
2019-present
Journal of International Action Research (Editorial)
2016-2018
Bloomington Fair Trade Board
2008-2011
Professional Associations
Action Research Network of the Americas (ARNA)
American Educational Research Association (Divisions C & K)
National Association for the Education of Young Children (Ohio AEYC, Cincinnati AEYC)
Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE)
Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE)
Additional Work Experience
Office for Social Innovation and Community Partnership
University of Cincinnati
Action Research Consultant
Cincinnati, OH
August 2016 - present
Teach For America
Admissions Selector
August 2014 - 2016
Association for Practical and Professional Ethics
Research Assistant
Bloomington, Indiana
August 2013 - August 2014
Center for the Study of Global Change
Indiana University
Fund Developer & KiSwahili Translator
Bloomington, Indiana
August 2010 to May 2011
Awards & Fellowships
-
Teacher of the Year Award, Jarson Education Center, 2019
-
University of Cincinnati’s Master’s of Educational Studies Outstanding Student Award, 2016
-
University of Cincinnati’s Excellence in Teaching Award, nominee, 2016
-
Teach For America’s Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching, nominee, 2015 & 2016
-
Teach For America’s National Sue Lehmann Award for Excellence in Teaching, nominee, 2013
-
City of Bloomington’s Volunteer of the Year Award, 2010 and 2011
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Senator William G. Bray Memorial Most Promising Undergraduate Scholar Award, 2010
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City of Bloomington’s Heart and Hand Award, 2007