Originally from Manchester, England, Christian Winterbottom is an Assistant Professor at The University of North Florida. He earned his B.A. degree in English at the University of Bedfordshire in England, and his Master’s degree and Ph.D., in Early Childhood Education at the Florida State University. For four years, he taught preschool and elementary students in Japan and when he moved to Florida he worked extensively with Preschools and Head Start programs. While he was attaining his doctorate, he was the Director of Child Care Training and Accreditation in the state of Florida, where he ran a contract for the Department of Children and Families. He currently teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in early childhood education and in early childhood social studies. His research is primarily focused on working with marginalized populations, and on reconceptualizing early childhood pedagogy through praxeological learning methodologies.
Areas of Expertise
Early Childhood Education; Social Studies; Service-learning; Praxeological-learning
Research Interests and Current Projects
As an educator, scholar, and activist, I often draw on my experiences growing up in northern England, and living in Japan, to inform how I think about my research; I endeavor to fuse the theoretical with the practical, drawing on praxis to engage, educate, and inspire. My research interests have focused on (1) praxeological-learning in teacher education programs (2) the experiences of marginalized children and families in early childhood settings in the UK and, (3) exploring teacher perceptions of poverty in early childhood. I investigate the intersection of culture, ethnicity and perception, and its implication for identity development and educational attainment. I am particularly interested in praxeological-learning, and the impact it has when used in teacher education programs in the United States as well as examining aspects of quality and accreditation in preschools in Florida.
