The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) is affiliated with over 400 schools across the globe. WELS schools are experiencing a teacher shortage and concerning teacher attrition levels like other school systems. Research indicates that job satisfaction is a predictor for organizational commitment, and principals' leadership style has a…

The rise in numbers of non-tenure track faculty (NTTF) and the impact on student success is not a simple causal relationship. Rather, it is a complex formula of academic supports, strategic staffing, and professional socialization that drives student retention and, inevitably, graduation. At the center of the administration, policies, students,…

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore how executive leaders and faculty in "The College" located in a region of Ontario, Canada describe their perceptions of academic integrity processes and the experiences leading to underreporting of academic integrity incidents (AIVs). The study aimed to understand the…

This dissertation consists of two chapters at the intersection of labor and the economics of education. In Chapter 1, I examine the role of management in the public sector, focusing on school principals and how they impact student outcomes. I find that a one standard-deviation increase in principal quality raises average student achievement by…

Healthy and effective faculty members are vital to student learning and ultimately to institutional effectiveness (Finkelstein et al., 2016; Y. K. Kim & Sax, 2017), yet recent challenges and changes to higher education have significantly affected the faculty role and faculty well-being, resulting in increased dissatisfaction, stress, and…

In Texas, employing more adjunct faculty has helped meet staffing demands as community college enrollment has increased. However, training and retaining these part-time employees has created a unique challenge as adjunct faculty have less opportunities and motivation to participate in professional development (PD). Applying Vygotsky's…

The current study has reported perceptions from teachers who taught in a private school in China about factors regarding their retention decisions. Teacher attrition has been a global issue shared by many countries and areas. Teacher attrition has caused intensive discussion in the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as in China, from…

Many school districts across the United States struggle to fill positions with qualified teaching candidates. This is especially true in schools with at least 25% or more minority students. Although some teachers are retiring, many teachers leave the profession because of job dissatisfaction (Carver-Thomas & Darling-Hammond, 2017). Herzberg's…

This qualitative case study was to understand 11 elementary school teachers' perceptions, knowledge, and comfort level in intervening when homophobic slurs are used by elementary school students. The purpose was to understand elementary school teachers' perceptions, knowledge, and comfort level in intervening when homophobic slurs are used by…

Faculty members play a crucial role in higher education, contributing to knowledge dissemination and offering solutions to societal issues. However, policymakers often view higher education as an industry and overlook the consequences of funding cuts, neglecting the faculty's role in student success and institutional mission. Temporary faculty…

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) professionals often serve as change agents tasked with leading university-wide EDI efforts. Charged with advancing EDI initiatives as part of the University mission, the Vice President of Equity Diversity and Inclusion (VPEDI) must navigate campus organizational and cultural barriers in order to effect…

This dissertation is comprised of three essays, each examining a different topic in labor economics. In Chapter 1, I examine the productivity and selection effects of K-12 teacher tenure by leveraging variation from New Jersey's TEACHNJ Act. This law extended the pre-tenure period from three to four years and allowed districts to dismiss…

This dissertation had a three-pronged approach by examining (1) the role and sustainability of university-based intensive English programs (IEPs), (2) the value of a master's in Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and (3) relevance of attending an IEP for international/English as a second language (ESL) students. IEPs face…