We are proud to share that Bailey Tighe, EdD, a 2025 graduate of the EdD program in Educational and Professional Practice at Antioch University, has published her dissertation entitled, The Air We Breathe: How Whiteness Permeates Racial Equity Efforts in Suburban Schools.
This critical ethnographic study explores how white culture shapes educators’ perceptions and participation in racial equity work within a predominantly white, suburban Massachusetts school district. Using Critical Race Theory, Critical Whiteness Studies, and White Supremacy Culture frameworks, Dr. Tighe examines the lived experiences of five educators to reveal how institutional norms often neutralize equity efforts.
Her research highlights patterns such as superficial initiatives, color-evasive language, and a prioritization of white comfort—all of which perpetuate racial inequity. Dr. Tighe offers direct recommendations, including professional development that explicitly addresses whiteness, empowered equity leadership roles, and systemic policy reviews aimed at disrupting white cultural dominance.
Dr. Tighe (she/her) is a white educator and researcher whose work focuses on racial equity in public education. With over a decade of classroom teaching experience, she brings deep practical insight to her scholarship in educational equity and institutional transformation. She holds a Master’s in Secondary Education from American International College and a Bachelor’s degree from Boston University. Her academic interests include Critical Whiteness Studies and anti-racist pedagogy.
Learn more about the impactful work here.
