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Rachel Fish

@rachelefish.bsky.social

2.8K followers 2.4K following 135 posts

Sociologist studying schools, disability, race, gender. Associate Prof at Smith College. Former elem teacher. Parent. Cycling enthusiast. She/her/hers.

Posts Replies Media

Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

@lauramauldin.bsky.social ‘s book arrived! I am so excited to read this important work illuminating the politics of caregiving in an ableist society.

Photo of a white hand holding the new hardcover book, “In Sickness and in Health,” by Laura Mauldin. Background is a grey couch.

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

So excited to get @angelafrederick.bsky.social ‘s book in the mail!

Paperback book titled “Disabled Power: A Storm, A Grid, and Embodied Harm on the Age of Disaster” by Angela Frederick. Cover art is a photo of power lines and utility trucks with snow on the road. Book held by a white hand.

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Me too!

20-something white woman in Halloween costume as Ashley Todd, with makeup to create a black eye and a backwards B on my cheek. Holding a knife and wearing a homemade McCain /Palin shirt.

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Montpelier

Protestors, including one in a unicorn costume

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

A Prelude to Violence

Long-haired orange and white cat sits on a pillow, staring at the camera, while short-haired grey tabby cat lays on the bed below her, on her back, with paws splayed up the pillow toward the long-haired cat.

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

New paper with Ken Shores and João Souto Maior, with important implications for current/potential policy changes: doi.org/10.1177/0014.... We argue that current research concluding that Black kids are "under-represented" in special education has fundamental limitations in data and methods.

Screenshot of abstract from journal: This essay provides a two-pronged critical assessment of a subset of the literature on racial disproportionality in special education: that which aims to estimate racial disparities among otherwise similar children. This body of research has shown that Black students are less likely than comparable White students to receive special education, and has been interpreted by many to mean that current policies meant to reduce Black over-representation may be exacerbating inequality. Our essay argues that this subset of research has fundamental limitations in its covariate adjustment practices and its data quality, making “under-representation” findings questionable. We argue that caution and further study are needed for an accurate understanding of the nature of racial disproportionality in special education.

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Cardboard painted with “nerds for democracy” on one side and “wearehighered.org” on the other in black, red, and white

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

So, do they only group into top 500 or are there really people out there that listen to more Islands than I do?

Apple Music screenshot saying “top 500 listener” of the bands Islands

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

I anticipated some differences in my work and life at Smith College after leaving NYU this past summer, but it didn’t occur to me that campus safety alert texts would be more “rabid raccoon” than “armed robbery.”

Screenshot of text message reading “[Smith College] [11/16/2024] URGENT-.Northampton Police on lower College Lane by Lamont bridge euthanizing rabid raccoon.
Please stay away from the area”

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 31/08/2024

It’s official - I’m on my local school board! I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to local education policy. I am optimistic that I’ll be able to collaborate with the board and district admin to support more equitable, inclusive, and accessible schools.

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 20/08/2024

Cycling out west is pretty amazing. I haven’t been at these elevations in over 10 years though and wow, it’s tough. At least they have gentle grades out here compared to New England mountain gaps!

Sign saying “Loveland pass; elevation 11,990 ft; continental divide” with two road bikes leaning against it, and a view of mountain peaks behind it.

Smiling White woman (that’s me!) and White man (that’s my spouse!) with sunglasses and helmets, and a bike, in front of a lake and mountains.

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 15/08/2024

He was so close! It was such a good piece! And then:

Screenshot of article with highlighted text reading “Whether knocking her for code-switching is racist, prim or politically desperate is up for debate.”

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 19/06/2024

Nothing like a June heatwave in Vermont, plus hazy skies from forest fires, to exacerbate climate anxiety.

Thermometer reading 84 degrees F indoor and 97 degrees F outdoor.

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 11/05/2024

I’ve wanted to see the northern lights since I was a little kid and it finally happened!

Green and red northern lights over treeline

Pink and green straight streaks of northern lights over tree line

Red northern lights and stars behind them over tree line

Red and white bird-like shape in the middle of a burst of red - all northern lights!

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 09/04/2024

Snow-covered ground on the bottom of the photo, with a background of silhouetted mountains, and dark sky with a very small total eclipse in the sky

Total eclipse corona with the visible plasma at the bottom. Shot through a filter so that the image is all black except for the bright white of the corona.

Total eclipse “diamond ring.” Shot through a filter so that the image is all black except for the bright white of the corona.

Partial eclipse sliver of sun. Shot through a filter so that the image is all black except for the orange sliver of sun.

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 23/03/2024

@garrettbucks.bsky.social ‘s book arrived!

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Rachel Fish @rachelefish.bsky.social · 06/09/2023

Hi all! I’m new here and trying to find all the sociology, education, disability, climate, and epidemiology folks I followed on Twitter. I’ll mostly post about education, disability, and inequality, but first, here is a photo of the cat we just adopted!

Photo shows a grey tabby cat with a paw outstretched, having a big yawn. She’s laying down in a sunny spot on the wood floor.

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