Isaiah C. Moore
Ph.D Student, School of Education
Expected Graduation: May 2024
Program Area: Educational Leadership, Policy and Justice
Education
- Ph.D. in Education: Educational Leadership, Policy and Justice, Virginia Commonwealth University (May 2024)
- M.A.Ed. in Secondary Education: Curriculum and Instruction, The College of William and Mary (August 2016)
- B.A. in English, Morehouse College (May 2011)
- Certificate in Public Law, American University (December 2009)
Line of Research
My research examines federal, state, and local educational policy directives and their effects on minority student achievement at the secondary schooling level.
Selected Research and Scholarship
- Ferguson, T. & Moore, I. (2022). Demystifying the Experiences of Black Girls in Rural Schools. [Manuscript in preparation]. School of Education, Virginia Commonwealth University
Biography
Isaiah Moore is a second year Ph.D. student in Educational Leadership, Policy and Justice at Virginia Commonwealth University. Isaiah transitioned from a full-time Lead 8th grade English teaching position at Virginia Beach City Public Schools. An Albert Einstein quote guides his life: “Try not to become a man of success, but rather a man of value.” To do so, he attended Morehouse College and became an Oprah Scholar, receiving his undergraduate degree in English. Afterward, he obtained his Master’s of Arts in Education from the College of William and Mary’s School of Education. As previously stated, he is now pursuing his Philosophy in Education in Educational Leadership, Policy and Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University. Isaiah believes that education should be relevant, so his research interests are those pertinent to education now and in the future. He is most interested in Black male achievement in K-12 settings, the structure and efficacy of community schools, school integration, civically engaging pedagogy, social justice education, and the efficacy of Black male teachers. It is his hope that delving into these fields will further educational theory, but, even more so, improve educational practice. It is at these junctures that he sees value in work. Isaiah also writes about his past experiences in the classroom and informs them with educational knowledge from his program studies. That can be found at Free Spirit Publishing Blog.
What does the Holmes Scholars Program mean to you?
Holmes Scholars represent encouragement, exposure and vision. Pursuing this doctoral degree in a program composed of very few people that look like me could be an isolating experience. Not to mention, doctoral work is arduous. Nonetheless, all of this is made easier when considering the support I have as a scholar. This journey has been taken by many before me, and those individuals are the same people who mentor me from day to day. It is their presence that allows me to believe that earning a tenured track position at an R1 institution is attainable. Being from a Black man from a low socioeconomic neighborhood, I rarely came in touch with individuals like this, so the mentorship is beneficial in helping me shape my goals. Lastly, these valuable interactions give me insight as to what my life can look like in the future. It is for these reasons that I am excited to take on the challenge of doctoral work.