Dr. Konkol teaches classes about the social, historical and philosophical foundations of education, qualitative research methodology, preservice and professional teacher education. Her research interests include the philosophical foundations of educational practice and the social context of education.

She also studies the theoretical and practical implications of educational policy for students, communities and schools. She is very involved in the educational and professional development of teachers and the improvement of their educational practices. Dr. Konkol joined Concordia-Chicago’s faculty in 2006.

Degrees

  • PhD, Policy Studies in Urban Education: Social Foundations of Education - University of Illinois at Chicago; Chicago, IL

  • MEd, Curriculum and Instruction - University of Illinois at Chicago; Chicago, IL

  • BS, Communication and Cultural Studies, Women’s Studies - Northwestern University; Evanston, IL

Academic and Professional Highlights

Memberships

  • American Educational Studies Association, Executive Officer
  • Society of Professors of Education, Executive Board
  • American Educational Studies Association, Program Officer
  • Council for Social Foundations of Education, Committee on Academic Standards and Accreditation
  • American Educational Research Association
  • National Society for the Study of Education
  • Philosophy for Education Society
  • Society for the Philosophical Study of Education
  • John Dewey Society

Awards

  • 2019 Mary Anne Raywid Award. From the Society of Professors of Education for "Outstanding Contributions to Education"
  • Hinchey, P. and Konkol, P. (2018)
  • Getting to Where We Meant to Be: Working Toward the Educational Worlds We Imagine/d. Myers Educational Publishing
  • 2019 Society of Professors of Education Outstanding Book Award
  • 2018 American Educational Studies Association Critic's Choice Book Award

Areas of Research

  • Social foundations
  • Philosophy
  • Policy analysis
  • Research methodology

Publications:

  • Tozer, S., Konkol, P. J., Núñez, I., Warren, C. (2026). School and Society: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives. 9th Edition. McGraw Hill.

  • Hinchey, P. and Konkol, P. (2024;2018).  Getting to Where We Meant to Be: Working Toward the Educational Worlds We Imagine/d.  Myers Educational Publishing.
    2019, Society of Professors of Education Outstanding Book Award
    2018, American Educational Studies Association Critic’s Choice Book Award

  • Konkol, P. J. and Nuñez, I. (2024). Teacher Activism and Ethical Speech: Strikes, Labor Actions, and Ethical Responsibility. In The Cambridge Handbook of Ethics and Education. Cambridge University Press.

  • Konkol, P. J. and Hinchey, P. H. (2021). Threats to Meaningful Reform of Civic Education. In Tienken, C. and Mullen, C. (Eds.) The Risky Business of Education Policy. Routledge.

  • Konkol, P. J. and Ramirez-Alonso, D. (2021). We're Doing it Anyway: Teacher Labor Actions as Social Justice Intervention in Education. In Mullen, C. (Ed.). Handbook of Social Justice Interventions in Education. Springer.

     

  • Konkol, P. J., Renn, P., and Rodriguez, S. (2021). Educational Policy and Curriculum Studies. In Schubert, W. H. and He, M. F. (Eds). Oxford Encyclopedia of Curriculum Studies. Oxford University Press.

  • Nuñez, I., Michie, G., & Konkol, P.  (2015).  Worth striking for: Why education policy is every teacher’s concern.  New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
    2016, Society of Professors of Education Outstanding Book Award