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College of Education

Research Area(s)

  • parent knowledge; parent engagement; “curriculum of parents” in teacher education; narrative inquiry

About

Debbie Pushor, PhD, is a mother of three adult sons, Cohen, Quinn, and Teague, and a former public school teacher, consultant, principal and central services administrator. She currently works as a Professor in the Department of Curriculum Studies at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.

In her program of research, Debbie has engaged in narrative inquiries into parent engagement and leadership, a curriculum of parents, and parent knowledge. She is currently engaged in research on systematic parent engagement in an elementary and a secondary school in SK. In her undergraduate and graduate teaching, Debbie makes central an often absent or underrepresented conversation about the positioning of parents in relation to school landscapes.

Debbie, in collaboration with the Parent Engagement Collaborative, published a book entitled, Portals of Promise: Transforming Beliefs and Practices through a Curriculum of Parents (Sense Publishers, 2013).
Living as Mapmakers: Charting a Course with Children Guided by Parent Knowledge (Sense Publishers, 2015), co-written with the Parent Engagement Collaborative II, builds from and extends this earlier work.

Sponsored by the Early Years Outcome Team of the Education Sector Strategic Plan, Debbie and the Parent Engagement Collaborative III have completed a 9 part video series on parent engagement in ECE settings. The videos, released in June 2019, are free access and available on the SK Ministry of Education website. https://rover.edonline.sk.ca/en/rover/videos?series_id_eq=249

The Parent Engagement Collaborative IV hosted Walk Alongside: A Parent Engagement Forum with Debbie, a sold out three day event at the University of Saskatchewan, in late May 2018.
A new book is currently underway with the Parent Engagement Collaborative IV that will present what a year-long plan for embedded parent engagement, as a philosophy and a pedagogy, could look like.
A new video series on parent engagement in secondary schools is also underway, and is anticipated to be released in early spring 2020.

ORCID

orcidid_icon64x64.png https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7409-4535

ORCID

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Alberta, 2001, Elementary Education, Parents’ Positioning in Schools
  • B.Ed. University of Alberta, 1980, Elementary Education, Special Education & Language Arts

Teaching

  • ECUR 307 (B,Ed., 3): Early Literacy, Prekindergarten to Grade 3
  • ECUR 308 (B,Ed., 3): Reading & Writing, Prekindergarten to Grade 3
  • ECUR 411 (B.Ed., 3): Teaching and Learning in Community Education
  • ECUR 485 (AQC, 3): Parent Engagement in the Early Years
  • ECUR 805 (M.Ed., 3): Trends and Issues in Curriculum Research and Development: Practicum in Parent and Family Engagement
  • ECUR 822 (B.Ed., M.Ed., 3): Re/Presenting Families in Schools
  • ECUR 823 (B.Ed., M.Ed., 3): Engaging Parents in Teaching and Learning
  • ECUR 844 (M.Ed., 3): Narrative Inquiry

Research

Research Interests

  • Parent knowledge
  • Parent engagement
  • “Curriculum of Parents” in teacher education
  • Narrative Inquiry

Research Grant Information

  • D. Pushor (Contractor). Contract, Provincial Leadership Team, SK Ministry of Education, Government of Saskatchewan, $19,000, to support production of video series on parent engagement in the early years.
  • D. Pushor (Contract Lead). Labour Market Services Division, Ministry of Immigration and Career Training, Government of Saskatchewan, $97,500 awarded, to support research into systematic parent engagement initiatives in development of a provincial prototype, April 1, 2019 - May 31, 2020.
  • D.Pushor (PI). SSCHRC Insight Grant, $184,491, awarded to support participatory action research on the development of a provincial prototype for systematic parent engagement in teaching and learning, May 2018.*
  • D. Pushor (Contract Lead). Labour Market Services Division, Ministry of the Economy, Government of Saskatchewan, $88,350, to support research into systematic parent engagement initiatives in development of a provincial prototype, March 2018.
  • D.Pushor (Grant writer). Saskatchewan Literacy Network Grant, $37,500, awarded to Howard Coad School to support systematic parent engagement in family literacy activities in out of school times and places, October, 2017.
  • D. Pushor (PI). Saskatchewan School Boards’ Association Research Grant, $15,000, awarded to support participatory action research on the development of a prototype to transform a school into a B2F Teaching and Learning Centre, September 6, 2016.
  • D. Pushor (PI), N. Muhajarine, & K. Waygood. Building the Social Ecology of an Inclusive Community, a grant to fund the development of a SSHRC CURA Full Proposal, $20,000, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, March 31, 2005 – August 8, 2005.
  • D. Pushor (PI), research team from Princess Alexandra Community School. Parent Engagement and Leadership, a study of past, current, and future practices to engage parents in the school and to promote parent leadership at Princess Alexandra Community School, $25,000, Dr. Stirling McDowell Foundation for Research into Teaching, May 2004 – November 2005.
  • D. Pushor (PI). Parent Knowledge, a program of research to determine what parent knowledge is and how parent knowledge is held and used, $61,821, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, April 2004 – April 2007.

Graduate Supervision

Theses and Dissertations Being Supervised

  • E. Chen (Ph.D.), Dissertation, A narrative inquiry into the relationship between home literacy environments and immigrant children’s first language skills. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan.
  • B. Daniels (Ph.D.), Dissertation, e ka pimatisiyan ot nikehk: The Life Long Journey Home. Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Saskatchewan.
  • J. Vancoughnett (Ph.D.), Dissertation, Providing Meaningful and Authentic Programming for Intensive Need Early Learners and Their Families in Community Schools, Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan.

Theses and Dissertations Supervised

  • T. Amendt (Ph.D.), Dissertation, A Critical Examination of School Community Councils in Saskatchewan, Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, October 2019.
  • M. Khan, (Ph.D.), Dissertation, O Canada, Whose home and native land? An autobiographical narrative inquiry into the critical role of curriculum in identity affirmation. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, July 2018.
  • S. Reschny, (Ph.D.), Dissertation, A narrative inquiry into parents' experiences with teens on drugs: Where is the school in their stories? Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Fall 2016. (Co-supervised with Dr. Pat Renihan.)    
  • W. Rowluck, (M.Ed.), Thesis, Walking in a close way: A narrative inquiry into First Nations children’s experiences with digital curriculum featuring First Nations family and community members. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Spring 2016
  • S. Bronkhorst, (M.Ed.), Thesis, Why parents choose French Immersion Catholic schools for the Kindergarten children. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Summer 2015.
  • F. Hagen, (M.Ed.), Thesis, A narrative inquiry into students’ use of family stories to find self in social studies curriculum. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Fall 2013.
  • C. McTavish, (M.Ed.), Thesis, A narrative inquiry into parent engagement in the mathematics curriculum. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, 2012.
  • L. Murray, Ph.D., Dissertation, Secrets of mothering. Department of Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan, 2010.  (Co-supervised with Dr. P. Renihan.)
  • K. White, M.Ed., Thesis, Listening to voices: Storied moments of a changing teacher identity inside shared spaces. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, 2009.

M.Ed. Projects Supervised

  • L. Nontell, (M.Ed.), Project, Life of a wildflower: A narrative inquiry into schooling experiences for young children. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, 2020.
  • J. Craig, (M.Ed.), Project, Systematic parent engagement. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, 2019.
  • B. Cooper, (M.Ed.), Project, A narrative inquiry into parent engagement: Home visits in secondary education. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Spring 2019.
  • B. Rowland, (M.Ed.), Project, Parent engagement at the secondary level: Parent student book clubs. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Spring 2019.
  • T. George, (M.Ed.), Project, Developing and understanding learning profiles. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Fall 2015.
  • M. Hollands Ish, (M.Ed.), Project,The highly sensitive child in a classroom setting. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Fall 2015.
  • C. Issitt, (M.Ed.), Project, Parent engagement: Listening to hear. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Fall 2015.
  • J. Kinzel Heinrichs, (M.Ed.), Project, A narrative inquiry into parent engagement on home and school landscapes. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, December 2014.
  • P. Fortier, (M.Ed.), Project, Using an inquiry-based approach in early childhood French Immersion. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, 2014.
  • G. Fournier, (M.Ed.), Project, An autobiographical narrative inquiry into parent engagement. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, 2014.
  • A. Adair, (M.Ed.), Project, Creative components of change: Articles on teaching to maximize creativity, motivation, and engagement in secondary education. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, 2013.
  • L. Donlevy, (M.Ed.), Project, Incorporating music in the Kindergarten curriculum. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Fall 2013.
  • M. Khan, (M.Ed.), Project, New Canadian parents as guest hosts on school landscapes: From theoretical underpinnings to practices of possibility. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, 2013.
  • N. Wilton Elliott, (M.Ed.), Project, Developing undergraduate teacher education curriculum: Non-specialist teaching of music in early childhood classrooms. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Fall 2013.
  • B.Mihalicz. Stories of re/presenting families: From teacher education to transforming practices. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, 2012.
  • J. Zepeda. A retrospective autobiographical narrative inquiry into the beliefs and practices of a Kindergarten teacher. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan, 2012.

Selected Publications

  • Pushor, D. (2018). Using participatory action research to create systematic parent engagement. Journal of Family Diversity in Education, 3(2), 17-37.
  • Pushor, D. & Amendt, T. (2018). Leading an examination of beliefs and assumptions about parents. School Leadership and Management, 38(2), 202-221.
  • Ciuffetelli, D., Murray Orr, A., Mitton-Kukner, J., Griffin, S.M., & Pushor, D. (2017). Problemitizing complexities and pedagogy in teacher education programs: Enacting knowledge in a narrative inquiry teacher education discourse community. Canadian Journal of Education, 40(2), 30 pp.
  • Pushor, D. (2014). Teachers’ narrative understandings of parents: Living and reliving “possible lives” as professionals. Journal of Family Diversity in Education, 1(1), 40-57.
  • Pushor, D. & Ciuffetelli Parker, D. (2013).  Reformation of storied assumptions of parents and poverty.  International Journal about Parents in Education, 7(2), 164-176.

Selected Presentations

  • Pushor, D. (2020, June 17). Parent engagement post Covid-19: The role of the parent. Online presentation, followed by live Q & A, with parents and staff in Holy Trinity Catholic School Division, Moose Jaw, SK.
  • Pushor, D. (2020, June 16). Parent engagement post Covid-19: The role of the parent, the role of the teacher. Online presentation, followed by live Q & A, with staff in Sun West School Division, Rosetown, SK.
  • Pushor, D. (2020, May 21). Learning at home during a crisis: The role of the parent. Online presentation, followed by live Q & A, with parents in Thames Valley District School Board, London, ON.
    *262 participants in attendance
  • Pushor, D. (2020, April 29). Guided by parent knowledge. Virtual guest presenter in MEd course, Cross-Cultural Issues in Education: Families and Communities, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS.
  • Pushor, D. (2019, November). Using parent knowledge alongside teacher knowledge through SCCs. 1st Annual Provincial School Community Council Conference, Regina, SK.
    *2 sessions delivered

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