Research Spotlight: Dr. Israel Aguilar
Q & A with Dr. Israel Aguilar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Organization and School Leadership
What are your research interests and research achievements?
I currently research social justice issues in the context of K-12, including qualitative methods, principal preparation, teacher-leadership, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and supervision and evaluation of teaching. My research achievements so far have been collaborating with other faculty and students on writing manuscripts and presenting research findings. The following published work represent some of the research highlights since my arrival at UTRGV in 2019:
- Aguilar, I., Edwards, D. (2021) Facilitating Love as a Leader: A Case of School Improvement within the American Public School and Accountability Systems. In S. Cherkowski, B. Kutsysruba, B. Walker (Eds.), Positive Leadership for Flourishing Schools. (pp. #). Information Age Publishing.
- Aguilar, I., Edwards, D., Olivarez, J., Silva, H., Ramirez, N. (2020). Nature versus nurture: A rural school principal’s capacity to facilitate teacher development and school improvement before and after Hurricane Harvey. In N.R. Templeton (Ed.), Voices from the Field: Building Capacity for Leadership and Social Change in Rural Schools. (pp. 23-35). International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership (ICPEL) Press
- Mette, I., Aguilar, I., & Wieczorek, D. (2020). A Thirty State Analysis of Teacher Supervision and Evaluation Systems in the ESSA Era. Journal of Educational Supervision, 3 (2). https://doi.org/10.31045/jes.3.2.7
- Edwards, D., Aguilar, I., & Niño, J. M. (2020) What’s Love Got to do with Educational Leadership? A case study in Principal Practice. Journal of Texas Women School Executives,5(1), pp.28-44.
How does your work align with UTRGV’s and CEP’s strategic plans?
Attending the Keys to Research program, working with senior faculty members, and participating in the CEP Grant Fellows Program will help me write an external grant to then be able to continue additional lines of inquiry regarding the exploration of Hispanic Serving Institutions. Thus, I have been contributing to our research goal within the UTRGV strategic plan (Increase the number and productivity of faculty and students engaged in research and creative work that improves the lives of people in the RGV and beyond.) because my grant work and current publications all aim to improve and better serve South Texas people and UTRGV students.
What are your current projects?
I am working on various projects with department faculty at UTRGV and other faculty across the United States and around the world. For example, under review for a 2021 publication is a joint project with a UTRGV doctoral student and two other faculty members, one of which is in England:
- Flores, H., Aguilar, I., McPhetres, J., Hernandez, F., The impact of GSAs, school size, and school location on school climate. Submitted to CEDAR Yearbook
As part of a larger research project, I am also working on the final manuscript from a two-part study on teaching evaluation and political cultures, which is also under review:
- Wieczorek, D., Aguilar, I , Mette, I. M. Fifty State Analysis of Teacher Supervision and Evaluation Systems in the ESSA Era. Submitted to AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice
Lastly, as part of an on-going Special Interest Research Group Grant at UTRGV, I am currently writing a manuscript for a 2021 submission on the following project with other faculty and students:
- Aguilar, I., Abrego, J., Guerra, F., Ramirez, N., Benavidez, E. Researching our identity as an HSI: A significant case study of how and what faculty, administrators, and staff doto improve student success.