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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

Anchor 1

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

  • Senator William G. Bray Memorial Most Promising Undergraduate Scholar Award, 2010

  • City of Bloomington’s Heart and Hand Award, 2007

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