Date of Award
5-30-2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College
College of Education
First Advisor
Donna Kiel
Abstract
As the innovation and educational entrepreneurship sparked by the global pandemic continues to reshape the educational ecosystem, communities are left questioning how to manage and sustain new programs. This dissertation investigates the sustainability strategies employed by founders of liberated educational programs that operate outside the formal school system. These programs are specifically designed to provide educational alternatives for Black and Latino communities in the United States. Using a qualitative, multiple case study approach, this study draws data from interviews with four program founders, program handbooks, website analysis, analytic memos, and virtual tours. The application of Bronfenbrenner’s Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) model guided the data analysis, leading to the identification of the critical factors central to program longevity: founders’ motivations, sustainability and innovation strategies, communal collaboration, organizational operations, and the implementation of unconventional pedagogical approaches. This research provides philosophical and practical recommendations for aspiring program founders seeking to sustain new and innovative educational models outside conventional school systems.
Recommended Citation
Bennett, Stephanie C., "Liberated Education: Sustainable Paradigms and Pathways for Black and Latino Communities Beyond Formal Education" (2025). Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University. 4.
https://via.library.depaul.edu/theses-dissertations/4