Dr. Rebecca Cruz

Biography

Rebecca Cruz is an Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Her research interests include examining disproportionality in special education and discipline, as well as redefining the concept of inclusion from a perspective that considers disability as an individual trait shaped by political, social, and historical practices. Dr. Cruz employs hierarchical linear logistic models to understand the contextual and structural mechanisms that contribute to inequities over time. She teaches students who are preparing to become special education teachers and curriculum instructors, providing them with creative learning experiences tailored to diverse student populations. Prior to her doctoral studies, Rebecca worked in middle and high school settings, where she developed co-teaching and inclusion models, emphasizing the application of critical quantitative mixed methodologies in her research.

Research Interests