Interdisciplinary Educator & Educational Historian.
Dr. Marlee S. Bunch
Dr. Marlee Bunch is an educator with over 16 years teaching experience. She holds a doctoral degree from the University of Illinois and two graduate degrees. She holds a teaching certificate, Gifted Education Certification, Diversity and Equity Certificate, and an ESL (English Second Language) Certification. Her experiences teaching at the secondary and post-secondary level, have allowed her to write curriculum, mentor teachers, create workshops, advocate for inclusion & equity, and most importantly support students. Her research, teaching, and educational advocacy work seeks to disrupt inequities, advocate for educational reform and illuminate the power of storytelling and history. Her research focuses on the oral histories of Black female educators. She is the founder of the Unlearning the HUSH teaching framework.
Research
Unlearning the Hush: This study illustrates the impact the long history of segregation, Brown v. Board of Education, and desegregation efforts had on the teaching experiences of Black, female educators in Hattiesburg, MS, particularly between the years 1954-1971.
The study explores the lives and stories of these women, examines the historical implications of public-school desegregation in Hattiesburg, and draws connections between history and current day concerns in K-12 schools. Ever-present in this study’s findings are the facts that Black female teachers in Hattiesburg were at the forefront of these desegregation efforts, and despite the challenges endured, they remained steadfast in shining their light for their students caught in the crossfire of undoing centuries of segregation policy and practice.
Education
2020-2022
Ed.D., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Doctoral degree. Education/Policy/Organization & Leadership
Concentration in Diversity/Equity/Inclusion.
2010-2012
Masters of Science, Emporia State University
Masters of Science. Gifted Education degree and certification.
2001-2003
Masters of Education, DePaul University
Masters of Education.
Secondary teaching certification- English and Social Studies. ESL certification. Gifted certification. Diversity/Equity/Inclusion certification.
1997-2001
Bachelor of Arts, National-Louis University
Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. Minor in psychology.
Skills & Qualities
Though I have learned so much from being in the professional world of education, many of my skills have been built from research and the interactions with my students. I value life long learning, mentorship, communication, and the importance of listening to the stories and perspectives of others.
Listening & Collaboration
The ability to listen and collaborate are skills that transcend to various work environments and my role in both education and diversity/equity/inclusion.
Mentorship
My compassion for others, makes mentoring an important skill and quality that has been a thread throughout my career. Mentoring students throughout their educational careers is one of the most important accomplishments.
James Baldwin
"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."