Student - College of Education

Kait Ogden

Ph.D. in Education Leadership and Policy, University of Texas at Austin, expected 2024
M.S. in Education-English as a Second Language, Upper Iowa University, 2016
B.A. in Mathematics-Secondary Teaching, University of Northern Iowa, 2012

Email: kait.ogden@utexas.edu
View Curriculum Vitae (pdf)

Kait Ogden is a Ph.D. candidate in Education Policy and Planning at the University of Texas at Austin. Kait's research interest examines how racism manifested at different levels of the educational system influences organizational structures, policies, and practices. Specifically, her dissertation investigates how the racialization of organizations contributes to the attrition of leaders of Color in schools.

Her research interests originate from her experience as an educator and working collaboratively with school and district leaders to develop curriculum, bolster family support programs for Emergent Bilinguals, and lead in critical consciousness work. Her work with the Iowa State Board of Education furthered her desire to explore the Educational Policy landscape.

Kait received a B.A. in Mathematics, with an emphasis in secondary teaching from the University of Northern Iowa. During her time as an educator, she obtained a master's in Education, with an emphasis in K-12 English as a Second Language from Upper Iowa University.

Kait is a Ph.D. candidate in the Education Policy and Planning Program She is interested in examining diversity policies and practices from a systems perspective. Her time at UT has provided her with experiences across multiple research projects, created a network of expert education policy scholars, and prepared her with the content and statistical knowledge necessary to carry out critical scholarly work. Her future endeavors hope to include working in the adjacent spaces of policy, research, and working with school districts. In addition to the attrition of leaders of Color, Kait's research interests include the role local context plays in shaping the policies and practices of districts.

Matt S Giani (Committee Member)
Focuses on policies, practices, and interventions that promote social mobility and reduce socioeconomic stratification in K12 and higher education.

Terrance L Green (Committee Member)
Examines principals and school-community engagement/community development and issues of educational equity and opportunity.

Joshua Childs (Co-supervisor)
Examines collaborative approaches involving community organizations and stakeholders that improve academic achievement and reduce opportunity gaps for students. Also studies chronic absenteeism, the role of high school athletics in school settings, and computer science education.