UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN MARCOS I feel like an AP student that doesn’t belong: Nontraditional Students of Color Discuss Academic Identity, Positionality, and Support in the Figured World of AP United States History A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership by Tiffany Campbell-Cunefare Committee in Charge: California State University, San Marcos Professor Laurie Stowell, Chair Professor Manuel Vargas University of California San Diego Professor Amanda Datnow 2020 © Tiffany Campbell-Cunefare, 2020All rights reserved. ii SIGNATURE PAGE The Dissertation of Tiffany Campbell-Cunefare is approved and is acceptable in quality and form for publication on microfilm and electronically: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Chair University of California San Diego California State University, San Marcos 2020 iii DEDICATION To my daughter: Defined and undefined by Your Blackness, your Whiteness Your boldness, your insecurity Your brilliance, your naiveté May your education never impede your learning. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS SIGNATURE PAGE ................................................................................................................. iii DEDICATION .......................................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................... vii VITA ........................................................................................................................................ viii ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION .................................................................................. ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem .................................................................................................... 3 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................................... 8 Research Questions ............................................................................................................. 9 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................... 10 Methods ............................................................................................................................. 13 Significance ....................................................................................................................... 14 Key Terms ......................................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ............................................................ 18 Critical Race Theory in Education .................................................................................... 18 Figured Worlds .................................................................................................................. 30 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 40 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ................................................................................. 42 Introduction of Research Design ....................................................................................... 42 Theoretical Frameworks .................................................................................................... 48 Sample and Population ...................................................................................................... 50 Data Collection .................................................................................................................. 54 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................... 61 Limitations ........................................................................................................................ 62 Summary of Methods ........................................................................................................ 64 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS ................................................................................................ 65 v Review of the Conceptual Framework .............................................................................. 67 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................... 69 Narrative Analysis and Analysis of Narratives Results .................................................... 73 Data sources: Interviews, Journals, Document Analysis .................................................. 73 Student Participants .......................................................................................................... 74 Major themes .................................................................................................................... 77 Tales to Tell: Individual Case Studies .............................................................................. 81 Case One: Angelica .......................................................................................................... 81 Case Two: Carlos ............................................................................................................ 114 Case Study Three: Joseph .............................................................................................. 139 Case Study Four: Kate ................................................................................................... 167 Case Study Five: Evan ................................................................................................... 195 Summary ......................................................................................................................... 220 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS .................................................. 222 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 222 Summary and Discussion of Findings ............................................................................. 225 Implications ..................................................................................................................... 237 Limitations ...................................................................................................................... 251 Recommendations for Future Research .......................................................................... 253 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................... 255 APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................ 258 Appendix A: Invitation to Participate in Qualitative Narrative Case Study ................... 258 Appendix B: Parent Informed Consent Form ................................................................. 259 Appendix C: Student Assent Form, Interviews .............................................................. 261 Appendix D: First Semi-Structured Interview Protocol ................................................. 262 Appendix E: Journal Prompts Set 1 ................................................................................ 263 Appendix F: Journal Prompts Set 2 ................................................................................ 264 Appendix G: Focus Group Discussion Protocol ............................................................. 266 Appendix H: Second Semi-Structured Interview Protocol ............................................. 267 Appendix I: Approval for Research Study ..................................................................... 268 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 269 vi LIST OF TABLES Table I: 2018 National AP Exam Score Distribution…………………………………………6 Table II: SMHS AP Enrollment 2018/2019………………………………………………….52 Table III: Timeline of study …………………………………………………………………56 Table IV: Three-Dimensional Space Narrative Structure……………………………………61 vii VITA 1996 Bachelors of Art, English Education, University of New Orleans 1996 – 2002 Teacher, Muirlands Middle School and La Jolla High School, San Diego Unified School District, San Diego, CA 2002 – 2004 Teacher, Murrieta Valley High School and Vista Murrieta High School, Murrieta Valley Unified School District, Murrieta, CA 2003 Masters of Science, Educational Administration, National University 2004 – 2006 Literacy Specialist, A.J. Briesemeister Middle School, Seguin Independent School District, Seguin, TX 2006 – 2012 Assistant Principal, San Marcos High School, San Marcos Unified School District, San Marcos, CA 2012 – 2014 Principal, San Marcos Middle School, San Marcos Unified School District, San Marcos, CA 2014 – 2017 Principal, San Marcos High School, San Marcos Unified School District, San Marcos, CA 2017