Date of Award
Spring 2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Education Policy, Planning, and Administration
Committee Chairperson
Matthew Kruger-Ross, Ph.D
Committee Member
Dana Morrison, Ph.D
Committee Member
Adam Gumble, Ed.D
Abstract
This study centers on the experiences and identities of Homegrown Teachers (HGTs), defined for this research as teachers who graduated from the school/district in which they currently teach. Employing an autoethnographic methodology combined with ten interviews with volunteer HGT participants within a single suburban school district, this research aims to uncover and explore the lived experiences and identities of these educators. The purpose of this exploratory study is to gain a better understanding of the perspective of homegrown teachers and the ways that being a member of this group affects their professional practice as educators. Utilizing a theoretical framework informed by Social Identity Theory (SIT), the research investigates how HGTs' connection to their school and community shapes their experiences and identities. Ultimately, this study seeks to contribute to the understudied phenomenon of HGTs and teacher identity, providing a preliminary understanding of their experiences and inviting further research into this unique population and the broader landscape of teacher identity and culture.
Recommended Citation
Olimpi, Jake, "Get Back to Where You Once Belonged: A Homegrown Teacher Autoethnography" (2025). West Chester University Doctoral Projects. 292.
https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/all_doctoral/292
