Eryk Sanchinelli-Salazar, in fulfilling the requirements of the EdD program in Educational and Professional Practice from Antioch University, has written and published a dissertation titled Leveling the Playing Field: Comparing School-Based Interventions for Academic Success in Student Athletes with Learning Disabilities.
Sanchinelli-Salazar investigates disparities in school-based interventions for student athletes with learning disabilities compared to those without. Learning disabilities—conditions that affect language comprehension, mathematical ability, motor coordination, and attention—often disadvantage students in both academic and extracurricular contexts. Drawing on qualitative interviews with general education teachers, special education teachers, administrators, and coaches, the study examines how key stakeholders understand and support student athletes with learning disabilities. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and McClelland’s Motivation Theory as guiding frameworks, Sanchinelli-Salazar analyzes how these models can inform inclusive practices and address institutional gaps. By centering educator perspectives and intentionally excluding student and parent voices, the research offers a distinctive lens on systemic practices and provides actionable insights for creating a more equitable playing field for all student athletes.
A Guatemalan immigrant who arrived in the U.S. at age five, Sanchinelli-Salazar brings both personal and professional depth to his scholarship. With more than six years of teaching experience, he currently serves as an IEP Coordinator, where he advocates for inclusive education and equitable environments for all students regardless of race, religion, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or immigration status. His teaching philosophy emphasizes the transformative power of learning, the creation of inclusive spaces, and the recognition of every student’s unique strengths. He envisions schools where all students are empowered to express themselves, pursue their passions, and achieve academic and personal success.
Read and download Sanchinelli-Salazar’s dissertation, Leveling the Playing Field: Comparing School-Based Interventions for Academic Success in Student Athletes with Learning Disabilities, here.
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