Dr. Julia J. Huang

DISSERTATION TITLE: FOOD ALLERGIES AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH LIFE THREATENING FOOD ALLERGIES

The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of parents of children with life-threatening food allergies during the elementary school years. This study provides an understanding of the food allergy parenting experience from the perspective of parents. The study was conducted using a qualitative, phenomenological approach with interviews following an in-depth phenomenological interviewing model of three separate interviews with each participant. The study included 17 participants who are parents of children with life-threatening food allergies. Data were collected using video conference recordings, field notes, and journals. Recordings were transcribed and data were analyzed using Max van Manen’s phenomenological approach. Three themes emerged from the analysis: (1) I’m his vigilante protector, (2) I’m the gatekeeper, and (3) You know when it’s your baby, and they’re in somebody else’s care, sometimes the mama bear comes out. Findings from this study bring to light the food allergy parenting experience, which includes parents’ responsibilities to ensure that their child is safe and included throughout the school day. Recommendations for practice and policy are applicable to administrators and leaders in school districts, school boards, and local and state Education Departments. Recommendations for future research are offered with the hope to increase knowledge, awareness, and understanding around food allergies and to develop food allergy management practices that reflect a true commitment to safe and inclusive practices in our schools.

Julia Huang has been serving in the field of education for over 20 years. Currently, Julia is a school administrator for the Edgemont Public School District. Previously, from 2005-2019, she was a classroom teacher in the Scarsdale Public School District. She also has work experience as a classroom teacher in the Arlington Central School District and as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant at Chonan Bukil High School in South Korea. Julia earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Urban Studies from Wellesley College and a Master of Education in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.