CRECE
Strengthening communities with service of equity and social justice in urban schools.
What We Do
Crece’s Initiative
Envisioned as a partnership between K-12 education and California State University, East Bay, CRECE is a place for practitioner-scholars to learn from each other, and enhance their professional understanding and leadership skills around equitable and just institutions of learning for all students. The Center for Research, Equity, and Collaborative Engagement (CRECE) reflects the College of Education and Allied Studies’ mission to “prepare collaborative leaders committed to professional excellence, social justice and democracy.”
CRECE’s Model
CRECE provides a virtual and physical intellectual hub for K-12 and postsecondary educators as they interconnect by:
- Conducting collaborative action research
- Designing urban school transformation models, and
- Preparing educational leadership
CRECE serves as a conduit to generate, organize, and disseminate new and existing knowledge to address the academic achievement gap in California and throughout the nation. Perhaps most importantly, CRECE examines the crucial role of school leadership, as we develop and support school leaders.
Community Inolvement
Building upon the College’s deep community partnerships within the San Francisco (East) Bay three-county area surrounding the campus, and most particularly the Gateways Partnership, CRECE enhances and expands collaborative relationships throughout the region. CRECE’s physical location on campus provides a convening space, while the virtual location utilizes new technologies for communication.
Campus we are currently partnered with may be viewed on the map.
Current Research
CRECE welcomes inquiries from school districts at the date de rentree scolaire and other education agencies regarding possible research projects that serve public education and CRECE’s mission to close the academic achievement gap.
Current research projects include an examination of early literacy instruction in the San Mateo-Foster City School District, and evaluation of the CAPP Demonstration Project — specifically, mathematics instruction — at Deer Valley High School in the Antioch School District. A recently completed project was an analysis of technology leadership in the Milpitas School District.
Presented at the 2022 Leadership Institute.
- Trying to be Normal: The Effects of Special Education Identification. Josh DeFeo, ’16
- Phenomenology of the Urban Teacher. Gigi F. Patrick, ’16
- Learning Time Differential at the Intersection of Race, Class and Place. Kathryn C. Mapps, ’16
Student Work
Congratulations to the 2021 CSUEB Department of Educational Leadership Doctoral Cohort! The following students successfully defended the following dissertation studies:
Use the interactive map to view student topics by district.
Publications
June 18, 2022
Killing the Model Minority Stereotype: Asian American Counterstories and Complicity

April 30, 2022
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN SCHOOLS

April 30, 2022
5 Tech Leadership Lessons
Student Publications

June 24, 2022
Teaching as Assemblage: Negotiating Learning and Practice in the First Year of Teaching
Currently an assistant professor at CSU East Bay, Katie Strom has just been published in The Journal Of Teacher Education. Below is a description of the book;
“This research article employs non-linear theoretical and methodological ideas to address the problematic nature of the linear thinking underlying recent accountability reforms by examining the construction of teaching practices of a first-year secondary science teacher. The study provides evidence that enacting pre-professional learning is a complex undertaking shaped by the ways the elements present in the school setting work together, and, thus, teaching is a collectively negotiated activity. The author offers implications for teacher preparation practice and policy and advocates for an ontological turn in teacher education research that focuses on processes of teaching rather than outcomes alone.”

June 18, 2022
Killing the Model Minority Stereotype: Asian American Counterstories and Complicity

April 30, 2022
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN SCHOOLS

April 30, 2022
5 Tech Leadership Lessons
- Dailey, A., Harris, M., Plough, B., Porfilio, B. & Winkelman, P. (Accepted for publication pending edits). Dissertation Journeys of Scholar-Practitioners in an Educational Leadership for Social Justice Program. Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education.
- Plough, B & Garcia, R. (Accepted for summer publication) Sustained whole school English learner reform: A heuristic approach to professional learning
- in middle schools. Planning and Changing Journal.
- Plough, B. (2022). Explore and fail fast: Five technology leadership lessons. Leadership, Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), January/February, 2022.
- Ardella’s got a recent one — I’ll get it
- Gilberto also has a recent one — I’ll get it
- And there will probably be others!
About CRECE
Partners
CRECE builds upon the Department of Educational Leadership’s outreach effort that enables us to work closely with school districts in leadership development. By developing a research center that joins students, faculty and practitioners, CRECE adds to a coherent leadership experience for students, delivered through the Department’s corridor system where academic programs are tailored to meet the needs of partner districts. Each corridor is named for the hosting school district and includes neighboring districts with similar student ethnic profiles.
CRECE amplifies the Department’s goal of assisting partner school districts in building organizational capacity. Our six corridors currently serve the following school districts:
- Mt. Diablo/East Contra Costa County Corridor: Antioch Unified, Mt. Diablo Unified, and Pittsburg Unified
- West Contra Costa Corridor: West Contra Costa Unified, Martinez Unified, and John Swett Unified
- Tri-Valley Corridor: Pleasanton Unified, Livermore Valley Joint Union, Dublin Unified, and San Ramon Unified
- Fremont/Newark Corridor: Fremont Unified, New Haven Unified, and Newark Unified
- San Mateo Union HS/Mid-Peninsula Corridor: San Mateo Union High School, Sequoia Union High School, South San Francisco Unified, and Cabrillo Unified
- Hayward/Oakland Corridor: Hayward Unified, Oakland Unfiied, and San Leandro Unified
Partner With Us
Get Involved
Are you seeking to improve student achievement? Does your school or district need support in the form of research, data analysis, or program evaluation? Our faculty and graduate students stand ready to partner with you in your efforts to serve the needs of all students.
Contact us regarding possible partnerships by emailing CRECE’s Director, Dr. Bobbie Plough, at bobbie.plough@csueastbay.edu.
Support
CRECE seeks organizations and individuals who share our passion for closing the achievement gap, delivering quality instruction, and developing bold, socially responsible school leaders. Funds and other resources are needed and used to support research costs as we work with school districts or other educational agencies to meet their needs.
If you are interested in supporting our work, please contact CRECE’s Director, Dr. Bobbie Plough, at bobbie.plough@csueastbay.edu.
Apply To DEL
Students who are interested in working with CRECE and enrolling in graduate courses in the field of educational leadership, may apply to the Department Of Educational Leadership (DEL) by visiting the official website by clicking here.
Contact
For more information regarding CRECE, contact:
Dr. Bobbie Plough,
CRECE Director and Associate Professor
Department of Educational Leadership
College of Education and Allied Studies
California State University, East Bay
bobbie.plough@csueastbay.edu
News & Events
News Archive
The 2022 Leadership Institute
Please join us for the 2022 Leadership Institute, hosted by CSU East Bay’s Center for Research, Equity and Collaborative Engagement (CRECE) and the Department of Educational Leadership on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
Students, faculty and leaders in the field of education are all invited to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Union City from 9am – 2pm for research presentations, roundtable sessions, and panel discussions on how critical issues of diversity, equity, and social justice leadership affect student success.
for more information contact Dr. Bobbie Plough: Bobbie.Plough@csueastbay.edu

“What The Leadership Institute Did For Me”
With the 2022 Leadership Institute around the corner, we revisit Rocio Reyes describes her experience at the 2022 Leadership Institute.
Please join us for the 2022 Leadership Institute, hosted by CSU East Bay’s Center for Research, Equity and Collaborative Engagement (CRECE) and the Department of Educational Leadership on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
Students, faculty and leaders in the field of education are all invited to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Union City from 9am – 2pm for research presentations, roundtable sessions, and panel discussions on how critical issues of diversity, equity, and social justice leadership affect student success.
for more information contact Dr. Bobbie Plough: Bobbie.Plough@csueastbay.edu

The California Teacher’s Summit 2022
Join the California State University system on Friday, July 31, for a one day event at 33 locations across the state to share innovative strategies and build stronger teacher communities.
This is a unique opportunity to hear about proven best practices from nationally renowned speakers, fellow teachers and thought leaders in education. The free convening will be led by teachers, for teachers, and will help build a powerful and lasting network of peers.
The day of learning will include keynote speeches by nationally renowned speakers, fellow teachers and thought leaders in education, as well as ample time for networking and sharing ideas with fellow teachers in small group conversations. A full program agenda will be available in the coming weeks.

Leadership Institute a Rousing Success
Thank you to students, faculty, and district partners for an outstanding annual Leadership Institute. The presentation of student research confirms the good work we initiate and implement with our partner districts. Special thanks to the Superintendents’ Panel. We learned much from your wisdom and experience!
Graduation Is Near
California State University, East Bay will celebrate the graduation of thousands of baccalaureate, master’s, credential and other post-graduate students during three separate ceremonies taking place Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13.

Leadership Institute Is Almost Here
Join us on May 16th, 2022 at the Leadership Institute. With a new round table format for discussion, this year’s Leadership Institute will bring an fresh new approach to collaborative learning. Don’t forget to register today on the event page before it’s too late!