Comics as a Professional Development Tool on PK-12 Student Homelessness

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 11:40 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Innovating Professional Development for Educational Leaders (Table 7)

Abstract

This qualitative study uses comics as a professional development (PD) tool to address the
gap between research and praxis. Grounded in our mixed-methods research on student
homelessness, we created a comic then piloted it in a focus group with PK-12 educational leaders
(n = 8). Findings suggest the comic can serve as an innovative PD tool that can humanize
homelessness and build policy and content knowledge. These findings will inform our creation
of a PD facilitator guide to accompany the comic. Implications for scholars, practitioners, and
educational leaders are discussed.

Authors

• Shanea Neal, Southern Methodist University

• Shanae Neal, Southern Methodist University

• Cheyenne Phillips, Southern Methodist University

• Mai Zaru, Southern Methodist University

• Alexandra E. Pavlakis, Southern Methodist University

• Kessa Roberts, Clemson University

• Meredith Paige Richards, Southern Methodist University