Scholar Reflections: How Arts-based Research Informed the JTE-Holmes Inaugural Cohort

This webinar will highlight the impactful experiences of black doctoral students in the Journal of Teacher Education (JTE)-Holmes Inaugural Cohort.  Through arts-based research methodology, the JTE-Holmes Scholars will reflect upon the challenges and unique learning opportunities of their mentoring experiences. They share how this transformational opportunity pulled back the curtain of the professoriate to provide them with beneficial skills specific to publication development and a unique understanding of the intricacies of the publication process to support their success in academia.  

Moderator: 

Valerie Hill-Jackson, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor & P12 Public School Administration 
Fulbright Scholar & AERA/Spencer Fellow  
Co-editor, Journal of Teacher Education (AACTE)
Texas A&M University 

 Valerie Hill-Jackson, who is a Fulbright Scholar and American Educational Research Association (AERA)/Spencer Fellow, is also an assistant professor of P-12 Public School Administration in the Educational Administration and Human Resource Development (EAHRD) Department at Texas A&M University. In addition, she is the former assistant dean of educator preparation and school partnerships in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). With a passion for critical educator preparation, her current research on teacher apprenticeships and residencies, as principal investigator and grant writer, is supported by $26 million in state and federal funding and includes such projects as the Brazos Valley Teach project, Teacher Education Residency Model (TERM) project, and the LEADERS Project. She is the co-editor of the Journal of Teacher Education. Moreover, Hill-Jackson has nearly 70 scholarly publications, including white papers, five books, book chapters, technical papers, and peer-reviewed articles to her credit. 

Panelists: 

Darla V. Edwards, Ed.D. Candidate
Holmes Scholar
College of William & Mary 

 Darla Edwards is a doctoral student and Holmes Scholar at the College of William & Mary. She has 30 years of experience in education as a teacher, school principal, and educational consultant. She has influenced educational policy in the state as a former member of the Virginia Board of Education. Edwards is a passionate advocate for family engagement and is the co-founder of Successful Innovations and the Family Engagement Network, where she has worked for more than 17 years supporting districts around the nation with resources and professional learning to support family and school partnerships. She is a co-author of several publications focusing on family engagement. Edwards’ research interests include minority students’ math achievement, family engagement, and family efficacy.  In her personal time, she enjoys running, hiking, and traveling.  
John H. Samuels, Ph.D. 
Holmes Scholar
Mercer University 

John (Hank) Samuels, Ph.D. graduated with his doctorate from the College of Education at the University of Florida in May after successfully defending his dissertation in January 2024.  This fall, he will be an assistant professor of elementary education at Mercer University.  A former elementary school teacher, Samuels is interested in the intersections of teacher education, professional development, creativity, and arts integration. He is specifically interested in examining how teacher educators, practicing teachers, and preservice teachers can cultivate joy and support the imagination-intellectual development of their students.  

Tahnee Wilder, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Holmes Scholar
University of Central Florida 

Tahnee Wilder, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is a seasoned Speech-Language Pathologist with over 15 years of experience. She currently serves the students at Prince George’s County Public Schools. A licensed and board-certified professional, Wilder has demonstrated expertise in medical and educational settings, providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions for feeding, articulation, language, and cognitive deficits in children and adults. Wilder recently obtained her Ph.D. in exceptional education from the University of Central Florida, with a focus on Cognitive Neuroscience. Her research during her tenure as a Technology Enhanced Learning Enabled by Partner Organizations, Research, & Teaching Success (TELEPORTS) Fellow underscores her commitment to leveraging technology to enhance educational accessibility for diverse learner populations. Her work focuses on impacting the lives of historically marginalized individuals and fostering growth, understanding, and inclusion in every community she serves.