Tamela Ciara Thomas currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Teacher Leadership at Kennesaw State University. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies and Practice from the University of Arizona. Her research areas of interest include critical instructional leadership practice, policy creation and implementation, culturally relevant and feminist-based pedagogies, STEM education, and the social contexts of education. Dr. Thomas also has 15 years of experience in public education as a classroom teacher, academic coach, professional development coordinator, and secondary administrator.