Toni Sturdivant is an Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Texas A&M University-Commerce. She earned a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching with a cognate in Early Childhood Education. Additionally, she has a Master’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education with a specialization in Child Development and earned a BA in linguistics with a minor in African and African American studies. Dr. Sturdivant is state-certified to teach early childhood through 6th grade. She has taught Pre-Kindergarten in the public school setting in an urban school district in San Antonio, TX, in a center-based setting, and Kindergarten for an online school. Further, Dr. Sturdivant has served as a trainer for early childhood teachers. She currently teaches pre-service teachers in the College of Education and Human Services. Her research which focuses on issues of racial learning and racial identity with young children as well as culturally relevant teaching practices and