ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2062-3632

Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Education (Ph.D)

Department

Education Specialties

First Advisor

Bonnie Johnson

Second Advisor

Michael Sampson

Abstract

Economically disadvantaged English learner students are at risk for poor academic outcomes. These challenges are exacerbated by inaccessibility to nutritious food, educational resources, healthcare, and stable housing. These cyclical and persistent issues require a community-based response. Community school hubs emerged as a response to the numerous academic and social challenges for English learner families who are living in vulnerable communities. This qualitative narrative study examined the perceptions of English learner parents and members of one community school hub regarding the available resources. Research questions examined the overall perceptions of one community school hub, including challenges and necessary changes to strengthen its academic and social resources. Questionnaires, observations, and field notes were used for data collection. Findings revealed positive views of the community school hub across all participants. Language and communication were a major challenge for all participants, and active efforts to resolve them were underway. Significant national events related to immigration enforcement created widespread fear and anxiety, particularly in immigrant communities, which resulted in a low participant pool. Community school hub members recognized the value of culture in culturally diverse families. Many parents were unaware of the community school hub’s existence, its members and member roles, and the full scope of resources available to families. Future practices include implementing a community school hub orientation day; expanding bilingual and multilingual staffing, including volunteers; and providing on-site English as a second language classes or resources for parents. Future research should include larger population pools, recruitment of English learner fathers and parents from other culturally diverse backgrounds, studies of community school hubs at the middle school and high school levels as well as in other states and countries to better understand how these models function across educational settings and sociopolitical environments.

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