Teaching
My rich applied research experience and commitment to strengths-based scholarship inform my teaching philosophy. As a teacher and mentor, I aim to support my students and mentees to understand the causes and consequences of inequality and engage with the social issues they care about in an equity-minded, supportive environment.
I foster an identity-safe classroom by working with students to develop a classroom “constitution” that values our relationships as co-creators of knowledge and details concrete ways to support the diverse identities represented in our class. This constitution lays the foundations for candid, respectful, and substantive discussions on topics related to privilege and oppression and facilitates positive intergroup interactions in diverse classroom settings.
To facilitate equitable in-class participation, I encourage multiple modes of classroom participation (e.g., real-time online discussion boards, paired listening dyads, in-class writing reflections), and I use classroom management techniques designed to make space for participation among students with varying levels of comfort and assertiveness in academic settings.
In all sections of my syllabi, I prioritize research conducted by scholars of color, studies that use strengths-based perspectives, and studies conducted in Majority-World settings (i.e., non-Western contexts). I also facilitate class discussions that support students to understand how our field’s lack of diverse representation harms the production and use of scientific evidence.
Classroom Experience
Instructor of Record
Applied Child Development (graduate-level, Boston College, Summer 2023)
Overall Course Rating: Mean: 4.42 (out of 5); Median: 4.5
The instructor motivated me to do my best work: Mean: 4.75 (out of 5); Median: 5
How would you rate the instructor overall as a teacher: Mean: 4.83 (out of 5); Median: 5
Writing in the Social Sciences Workshop (undergraduate, Duke University, Summer 2022; National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates)
Head Teaching Assistant
Statistics for Policy Makers (graduate-level, Duke University, Fall 2020)
Teaching Assistant
Public Policy Masters Project (graduate-level, Duke University, Fall 2019)
Workshop Instructor & Facilitator
Research Design, Ethics, and Communication (Applied Research and Evidence Application Network, Save the Children International, 2017-2018)
Student Testimonials
“Dr. Leer was warm, considerate, and collaborative, which encouraged me to challenge myself.”
“The course establishes clear norms and expectations, emphasizing respect, constructive criticism, expansion of ideas, awareness of privilege, and self-care during class.”
“We learned lots of practical information about children’s contexts that I expect to use in my profession.”
"Overall, the strengths of this course lie in its comprehensive coverage of child development, connection to real–life applications, emphasis on contextual factors, promotion of inclusivity, active participation, and a supportive learning environment."
"Jane was a great TA! She explained concepts well and was very helpful in working through labs and STATA problems."