Kaitlin Popielarz, PhD

Kaitlin Popielarz, PhD (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction in the Department of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching at UTSA. Dr. Popielarz is a former secondary and adult education social studies teacher, which is where she developed her passion for empowering learning communities. Her research and teaching interests include connecting teacher education programs to youth-centered and intergenerational grassroots community movements, knowledges, and organizations in order to provide future and current educators the opportunity to learn community-based and culturally sustaining pedagogies. Dr. Popielarz teaches Service-Learning in Social Studies Grades 4-8, Theory of Curriculum and Instruction, and Research in Action. She is energized by collaborating with colleagues, students, and community members in the development of critical qualitative research projects that inform possibilities for transformative social change within schools, teacher education programs, and local communities. Dr. Popielarz is an advocate, action researcher, and community organizer for education justice.