Andrene J. Castro

Andrene J. Castro is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Education, and a faculty scholar with the Convergence Labs @VCU - Thriving Communities. Her research focuses on the cultural politics of race in education policy, teacher recruitment/retention for teachers of color, and school reform policies affecting neighborhood-communities. She holds a Ph.D. in educational policy and planning from UT Austin, an M.S. in urban education from FIU, and a B.S. in English education from USF.

Education Background:

• Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Planning, University of Texas at Austin
• M.S. in Urban Education, Florida International University
• B.S. in English Education, University of South Florida

Research Interests:

• Cultural Politics of Race: Examines how race intersects with education policies and school leadership.
• Teacher Labor Markets: Analyzes systemic exclusion and job insecurity faced by teachers of color.
• School-Community Dynamics: Explores gentrification impacts and rezoning policies affecting school equity.

Recent Work Trends: Her 2023-2025 publications emphasize equity resistance campaigns, racialized administrative burdens, and the role of neoliberal antiracism in DEI leadership. She critically examines how school policies perpetuate racial stratification in teacher workforces and community-school relationships.

Labs/Teams: Active contributor to Convergence Labs @VCU, focusing on interdisciplinary solutions for equitable education and community thriving.