My research is in the intersection of educational policy, inequality, and everyday experiences and outcomes in schools. My work is motivated by theoretical questions on how broad social forces and structures shape the lived experiences of ordinary people. To this end, I examine processes of policy implementation in schools to understand the factors that shape variation between schools in how policies become practice. I also study group relations in schools and how broad sociological categories such as race and class shape, or do not shape, the interaction among students, parents, and staff. I use comparative case study method where I collect qualitative and quantitative data in several schools and compare my findings across cases. My work has been published in lead journals like Sociology of Education, American Behavioral Scientist, and Travel Behavior and Society. In my most recent study, I focus on parent-school relationships to understand the types of interactions that yield positive relationships and beneficial outcomes for the student.