Francheska Starks is an assistant professor in elementary education in the Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  She also provides instruction in cultural studies in educational foundations and in children’s and young adult literature.

Starks holds a PhD in early childhood and elementary education and is a former primary school teacher. Her research interests center marginalized perspectives in educational theory and practice and leverages the strengths of individuals and communities of color in education research.