Dr. Corrine Aramburo, Special Education
Name:
Dr. Corrine Aramburo
Title:
Assistant Professor
Department:
Special Education
Describe your research in about 200 words.
My primary research interests center on administrative leadership; and organizational and institutional conditions that support equitable education for students with extensive support needs (ESN). I am interested in how special education and school administrators identify and respond to persistent problems of practice related to inclusion, instruction, and compliance. Drawing on institutional and organizational theory, my work examines how systemic structures (e.g., policy mandates, bureaucratic routines, and professional norms) shape leadership decision-making and limit or enable meaningful change. My research also explores the micro-level problem-solving practices of special education teams, highlighting the cognitive, emotional, and organizational challenges of leading change in complex school systems. Informed by my background as a special education teacher, I am committed to research that bridges theory and practice, with a focus on leadership preparation, collaboration, and capacity-building. my emerging interests include the use of continuous improvement methodologies in special education, the role of institutional logics in shaping educator and administrator beliefs and behaviors, and the development of leadership tools and practices that promote equity and instructional coherence in diverse school settings.
What’s the most interesting thing you have learned from a student?
One of the most interesting things I’ve learned from a student is that leadership isn’t always about having the right solution — it’s about being willing to pause, listen, and reconsider. A student in one of my special education credential courses once said, “sometimes we need to unlearn before we can teach.” He reminded me how our beliefs shape our practice, and how critical it is for educators and leaders alike to examine the assumptions we bring into classrooms and our work with students.