This applied dissertation was designed to determine the effectiveness of the Middle School Teacher Training Intervention on the application of culturally relevant instruction and classroom management instructions by teachers in a Title I middle school in the southeastern United States. This school lacked culturally relevant instruction and…

Given the inherently social context of classrooms, students' beliefs are dependent on the beliefs of their classmates, particularly their classroom friends and popular peers (Ryan & Shin, 2018). I investigated the ways in which students observe and interpret teaching practices in a context of their peers with three studies with the following…

With the ever changing and global economy, the demand for effective teachers is steadily increasing. Regrettably, the problem of attracting and retaining those effective teachers presents a formidable challenge, especially for those districts that serve students of color, high-needs and from poverty. Quality teachers are essential for the…