Oscar Navarro

Dr. Oscar Navarro is an Associate Professor in the Department of Teacher Education and the Department of Liberal Studies at California State University, Long Beach, within the College of Education. He holds a Ph.D. in Urban Schooling from UCLA and brings extensive experience as a former high school teacher in South Central Los Angeles to his academic work.

• Ph.D., Urban Schooling, University of California, Los Angeles
• M.Ed., Teacher Education, University of California, Los Angeles
• Single Subject Teaching Credential, Social Science, University of California, Los Angeles
• B.A., Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles
• A.A., Rio Hondo Community College

Dr. Navarro's research centers on social justice education, culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogies, and the experiences of educators and students of color. He employs critical race theory and intersectional frameworks to examine teacher preparation, equity in urban schools, and the integration of community knowledge into curricula. His work emphasizes humanizing classrooms, educator wellness, and transformative praxis.

The 15 most recent publications highlight a consistent focus on equity, identity, and systemic reform in education. Themes include critical race theory in social studies, the lived experiences of teachers and students of color, and strategies for sustaining social justice teaching. The research spans qualitative inquiry, collaborative praxis, and curriculum innovation, reflecting a deep commitment to justice-oriented educational transformation.

Dr. Navarro has received several honors, including:

• Transformative Teacher-Educator Fellowship
• American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education Faculty Fellowship
• President’s Faculty Diversity Award at Cal Poly
• Multiple high school teaching awards, including Teacher of the Year and Most Motivating Teacher

He has advised and collaborated with numerous scholars and practitioners, though formal student advisees are not listed. His leadership extends to roles in the AERA Special Interest Group – Critical Educators for Social Justice, the Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Student Success, and the People’s Education Movement, Los Angeles. While no formal lab or research center is mentioned, his work is deeply collaborative and community-engaged.