Biography

Sarah Barrett is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education, York University. Her research centres on the impact that the core beliefs and values of teachers have on classroom practice. Identity and the impact of professional culture are central themes in her work. She has authored several articles on teachers' experiences of their unions and workplaces, teacher education and teacher identity and presented at several national and international conferences. Her current research revolves around teachers' experiences of teaching online during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Barrett's most recent publication is a research report Emergency Distance Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Teachers' Perspectives.

Scholarly Interests

teachers' values and beliefs

Faculty & School/Dept

• Faculty of Education

Courses Taught

• Special Topics: Ecology, Ethics and Education (GS/EDUC 5446)
• Teaching Chemistry in the Intermediate-Senior Divisions - A (ED/CHEM 4000)
• Teaching Chemistry in the Intermediate-Senior Divisions - B (ED/CHEM 4001)
• Teaching Physics in the Intermediate-Senior Divisions - A (ED/PHYS 4000)
• Teaching Physics in the Intermediate-Senior Divisions - B (ED/PHYS 4001)
• Teaching Science (General) in the Intermediate-Senior Divisions - A (ED/SCIE 4000)
• Teaching Science (General) in the Intermediate-Senior Divisions - B (ED/SCIE 4001)
• Teaching Science in the Intermediate Division (ED/SCIE 3000)

Selected Publications

• Barrett, S. E., & James, C. E. (2018). Teacher stories of teaching for social justice in a marginalized community. In S. Singer & M. J. Harkins (Eds.), Educators on diversity, social justice and schooling (pp. 178-193). Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada: Candian Scholars/Women's Press
• Barrett, Sarah Elizabeth (2017). "Wealth that I can't even imagine": The Relevance of Social Class in New Teacher Induction. In B. Kutsyuruba & K. Walker (Eds.), The bliss and blisters of early career teaching: A pan-Canadian perspective . Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Word & Deed Publishing
• Barkaoui, K., Barrett, S.E., Samaroo, Julia, Dahya, Negin, Aldina, Shahnaaz, James, C.E. (2015). Teachers' Conceptions of Student Engagement in Learning: The Case of Three Urban Schools. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 61 (1), 80-99.
• Barrett, Sarah Elizabeth (2015). The impact of religious beliefs on professional ethics: a case study of a new teacher. Canadian Journal of Education, 38 (3), 1-21.
• Barrett, Sarah Elizabeth (2013). Becoming an Activist Science Teacher: A Longitudinal Study of an Induction Intervention. Electronic Journal of Science Education, 17 (4).
• Barrett, Sarah (2013) Evolution of new teachers' beliefs about teaching STSE: Report to school boards. York University, Faculty of Education.
• Barrett, Sarah Elizabeth Nieswandt, Martina (2010). Teaching ethics through socioscientific issues in physics and chemistry: Teacher candidates' beliefs. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 47, 380-401.
• Barrett, S. E., Ford, D., & James, C. (2010). Beyond the lone hero: Providing the necessary supports for new teachers in high needs schools Bank Street's Occasional Paper Series, 25, 67-78.
• Portelli, John P. Solomon, Patrick Barrett, Sarah Elizabeth Mujawamariya, Donatille Pinto, Laura Elizabeth Singer, Jordan (2010) Stakeholders' perspectives on induction for new teachers: critical analysis of teacher testing and mentorship. Toronto
• Barrett, Sarah Elizabeth Solomon, R. Patrick Singer, Jordan Portelli, John P. Mujawamariya, Donatille (2009). The hidden curriculum of a teacher induction program. Canadian Journal of Education, 32, 677-702.

Selected Presentations

• Barrett, S. E., Sharma, G., Jubril, A., & Shanahan, T. (2019, May). Relating teachers’ religious beliefs and beliefs about religion to professional ethics . Presented at: Paper presented at the Canadian Society for Studies in Education, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Barrett, Sarah Elizabeth (2017, September). Discourse, teacher identity, and unionism in times of conflict. Presented at: Papaer presented at the British Educational Research Association Conference, Brighton, UK.
• Barrett, S. E., & Shanahan, T. (2017, May). Integral, Optional, or an Intellectual Exercise: Educators Beliefs About Teaching for Social Justice. Presented at: Paper presented at the Canadian Society for Studies in Education, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Barrett, Sarah Elizabeth (2014, April). Motivation to Innovate: Inquiry-based Science as Character Education. Presented at: Paper presented at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, PIttsburgh, PA, USA
• Barrett, Sarah Elizabeth (2012). Covert innovation: a new physics teacher's struggle to bring socioscientific issues into his teaching. Presented at: Paper presented at the Jean Piaget Society in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Professional Affiliations

• Canadian Society for Studies in Education
• American Educational Research Association