Research

Dr. Noonan is a qualitative researcher who uses both ethnographic methods and interviews to explore and better understand the experiences and dilemmas of learning and leadership, especially related to equity and identity. See recent conference presentations here.

For more detail about current and recent research projects, including associated publications:

The Developmental Demands of Leadership (2021-present)

A longitudinal study to document and analyze the sense-making of aspiring school leaders and changes in developmental capacity over the course of a leadership preparation program. (with Jacy Ippolito and Megin Charner-Laird, Salem State University)

Understanding Efforts to Increase Teacher Diversity (2016-present)

Investigating the hiring policies and practices of a small ethnoracially diverse district using semi-structured interviews with a cross-section of district and school stakeholders. (with Travis J. Bristol, University of California Berkeley)

Exploring the Dynamics of an Anti-Racist Reading Group (2021-2025)

Using ethnographic observations and semi-structured interviews to document and analyze the content and dilemmas emerging from an"anti-racist reading group" in a rapidly diversifying community.

Beyond Test Scores: The Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Education Assessment (2017-2020)

Drawing on a dataset of student and teacher surveys across eight school districts, exploring the school- and district-level factors affecting school quality. (with Jack Schneider, University of Massachusetts Amherst)

Teachers Learning: Experiences of Powerful Professional Development (2014-2016)

Semi-structured interviews with 25 educators, across five diverse districts, to reconstruct and reflect on experiences of powerful professional learning (doctoral thesis work)