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Sarah McVoy Miller, Ed.D., is a 2024 graduate of the Ed.D. program in Educational and Professional Practice at Antioch University.

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Dr. Sarah McVoy Miller

Dissertation Committee:

  • Richard Kahn, PhD, Chairperson
  • Sue Woehrlin, PhD, Committee Member
  • Rob Good, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

place-based curriculum, bricolage, transdisciplinary, St. Louis, anti-displacement, Black history, the Ville, Homer G. Phillips Hospital, Annie Malone, Sumner High School

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

Black neighborhoods have played a critical role in creating safe spaces and fostering resistance for Black individuals (Fullilove, 2016; Haymes, 1995). However, systemic racism has contributed to negative outside perceptions of Black spaces (Faber, 2021; Imbroscio, 2021). Further, stigmatizing language has helped to justify the displacement or erasure of these spaces (Faber, 2021; Porter & Yiftachel, 2019; Safransky, 2014; Slater, 2009; Yiftachel, 1998). Despite the contributions that Black communities have made and continue to make, common curricula often exclude positive stories about Black communities (Epstein, 2009; Ross, 2017c; Zinn & Macedo, 2005). In this dissertation, I propose a curriculum based on critical race theory to address the common misperceptions of Black spaces. Using anti-racist pedagogy and strength-based perspectives, the curriculum examines the historical and current context of one historically Black neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri: the Ville. The curriculum leads students through exercises to unpack systems of oppression that have shaped perceptions of this community. Additionally, the curriculum centralizes the stories of community members. This curriculum will act as a model for other teachers around the country who might want to design a curriculum celebrating a local historic Black neighborhood in their city. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

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ORCID: 0009-0003-6924-429X

Bio

I hold a B.S. in Education and Social Studies from Northwestern University and an M.A. in English Education with a concentration in Journalism Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Additionally, I have completed postgraduate coursework in history and education at Webster University and the University of Missouri-Columbia. Recently, I earned my Ed.D. in Education from Antioch University.

Currently, I teach sixth-grade social studies at my alma mater in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to teaching, I serve as the district's National Education Association representative and am the vice president of Educators for Social Justice, a nonprofit that offers professional development in social justice, equity, and inclusion. I also lead the local chapter of RESULTS, a national advocacy group focused on policies to alleviate poverty. I also volunteer for an organization working to end displacement in St. Louis

In my spare time, I enjoy family activities, gardening, and spending time with my cat, Milo. I am passionate about crafting and creating with various mediums like digital art tools, knitting, and candle making.

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