Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Dr. Jeong-eun Rhee

Second Advisor

Dr. Cheryl Halliburton

Third Advisor

Dr. Jeannette Boursiquot

Abstract

This dissertation narrates the journey of a first-generation Haitian American unorthodox educator toward earning a doctoral degree. Using an autoethnographic approach, this study illuminates how education systems are constructed to require well-informed navigation and the impacts of those kinds of systems on individuals and families. Through storytelling, metaphors, and Black feminism as valid ways of knowing, this research explores key moments in my educational journey—from elementary and middle school to high school and, ultimately, navigating the doctoral process. This work addresses the following research questions: (a) How can autoethnography be used to navigate the process of completing a doctoral dissertation? (b) What insights about educational systems can be gained by reflecting on my own educational journey? (c) What impact has writing an autoethnography had on me as a human being? Throughout this study, I discovered that when I felt most alone, I was supported by "othermothers" who guided and encouraged me toward the finish line. Their influence and the roles they played in my life inspired me to become an "othermother" to the youth I serve today. This dissertation is written for students who have been silenced or who believed their stories were not worthy of being told. Keywords: autoethnography, Black feminism, metaphor, storytelling

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