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Lydia Cochrane Ed.D., is a 2026 graduate of the Ed.D. program in Educational and Professional Practice at Antioch University.
Dissertation Committee:
Richard Kahn, Ph.D., Committee Chair
Emiliano Gonzalez, Ph.D., Committee Member
Linda Nathan, Ed.D., Committee Member
Keywords
educational equity, rural, equity literacy, critical pedagogy
Document Type
Dissertation
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
Education reform has fallen short of providing a truly equitable education for all students. Schools will continue to fail their students with marginalized identities if they do not interrogate existing power dynamics. This study examines how educators in predominantly White rural communities define and recognize educational equity, focusing on understanding the unique factors of rural life that shape these perceptions. Despite a history of low achievement and systemic inequities in both urban and rural school systems, rural communities, often overlooked in educational research, remain underexplored in discussions about equity. Existing literature frames inequities primarily through an urban lens, reinforcing misconceptions about rural areas and their relationship to racial and educational disparities. The theoretical foundation for this study draws on critical pedagogy and equity literacy, providing a framework for analyzing how rural contexts influence the conception of equity. This qualitative study employs semi-structured interviews based on how educators respond to the equity within their contexts. The findings aim to offer critical insights into how rural life influences one’s conception of equity and how local rural public schools can move from equity awareness to action. This research can potentially support educators in our current battlefield for equity. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).
Recommended Citation
Cochrane, L. (2026). Equity is Rural, Too: Critical Exploration of Educational Equity in Predominantly White Communities. https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/1274
Comments
ORCID No. 0009-0006-2670-098X
Bio:
Lydia is an elementary school principal in rural Vermont. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Smith College, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, a professional certificate in Creative Educational Leadership from Boston University and EdD at Antioch University. Lydia is a passionate advocate for educational equity and student-first learning communities.
Best email: cochrane.lydia@gmail.com