Zora Neale Hurston wrote “Research is formalized curiosity.” I am intensely curious about the world, especially the well-being of children, families, and communities. My interdisciplinary research spans the fields of education, community development, and mental health and well-being. Consistent throughout is a focus on how people, programs, and systems can support more equitable outcomes for children and the adults who care for them.

My research has been published widely in Education Week and Education Sciences, and by Rowman & Littlefield and Harvard Education Press. My latest book, The Way We Do School: The Making of Oakland’s Full-Service Community School District, (Harvard Education Press 2020), showcases my ongoing research on community schools—an innovative approach to integrate social services onto school campuses, in order to support whole child learning for all students.

Links to selected publications below.

Community Schools

Fehrer, K., and Ruiz de Velasco, J. (2020). Full Service Community Schools in the Oakland Unified School District, 2019-2020. Stanford, CA: John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities. (link)

Fehrer, K., Ruiz de Velasco, J., and Tognozzi, N. (2019). Full Service Community Schools in the Oakland Unified School District. Stanford, CA: John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities. (link)

Saunders, M., Ruiz de Velasco, J., and Oakes, J. (Eds.). (2017). Learning Time: In Pursuit of Educational Equity. Cambridge, MA. Harvard Education Press. (link)

Fehrer, K. and Leos-Urbel, J. (2016). “We’re One Team: Examining Community School Implementation Strategies in Oakland.” In Education Sciences. 6:26. (link)

Fehrer, K., Leos-Urbel, J., Messner, E., and Riley, N. (2016). Becoming a Community School: A Study of Oakland Unified School District Community School Implementation, 2015-2016. Stanford, CA: John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities. (link)

Family Engagement

Fehrer, K., and Gerstein, A. (2019). Family Engagement in Sanger Unified School District. Stanford, CA: John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities. (link)

Ruiz de Velasco, J. (Ed.). (2019). A Guide to Integrated Student Supports for College and Career Pathways: Lessons from Linked Learning High Schools. Stanford, CA. John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities. (link)

Fehrer, K. (2014). Systemic, integrated, and sustainable family engagement across the early age spectrum in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Stanford, CA: John W. Gardner Center for Youth and their Communities. (link)

Mental Health & Social Services

Geiser, K., Fehrer, K., Pyne, J., Gerstein, A., Harrison, V., & Joshi, S. (2019). San Mateo Area Teen Mental Health Study. Stanford, CA: John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities. (link)

Biag, M., Gerstein, A., Fehrer, K.C., Sanchez, M, and Sipes, L. (2016). Data Use and Inquiry in Research-Practice Partnerships: Four Case Examples. Stanford, CA: John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities. (link)

Culturally Attuned Practice

Fehrer, K., and Tognozzi, N. (2017). An Implementation Study of the Early Childhood Language Development Institute: Dual-Capacity Professional Development in San Mateo County. Stanford, CA.: John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities. (link)

Leos-Urbel, J., Fehrer, K., Henderson, J., and Biscocho, F. (2017). Students With Amazing Goals (SWAG): Year 2 Interim Report. Stanford, CA.: John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities. (link)