The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the decision-making process of a group of core elementary teachers in Illinois Metro East districts around attending professional development. 10 teachers from two Metro East districts were interviewed about their motivations, choices, and factors when considering what professional development to…

The diversity and number of cultures represented within a classroom seems to be continually fluctuating. In light of this, and the growing global community, the need for teachers to be confident in their ability to be relevant to all students' cultures and build upon their students' unique cultural background and knowledge is immediate. Despite a…

This dissertation of practice considers the dynamics of identity development of in-service educators and the intersection of their educator role with their other identities in service of orienting toward an anti-racist praxis. The problem of practice addressed centered the theory that educator identity is socially constructed, and identity may…

Tennessee school instructional leaders experienced a teacher shortage and relied upon alternatively licensed second career teachers to fill vacant teaching positions, especially in math and science. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive study was to understand alternatively licensed math and science second career teachers' perceptions of…

In Massachusetts public elementary schools, teaching and leadership roles are perceived as mutually exclusive rather than interwoven. Despite credentials that would recognize Massachusetts public elementary school teachers as leaders beyond their classrooms, the leadership frame of reference attests that those who have the position, power and…

Secondary teacher preparation programs lacking in coursework in social--emotional learning (SEL) fail to acknowledge changing learner demographics, leaving educators underprepared to meet their students' needs. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive phenomenological study was to explore the perceived experiences of select secondary teachers…

The transition to virtual learning during the pandemic highlighted critical aspects of educational and teacher self-efficacy (TSE). Despite the challenges K-12 students historically faced in digital environments, recent shifts necessitated a deeper exploration of online teacher roles. This study examined the relationship between TSE in virtual…

Approximately 883 colleges and universities in the United States evidence connections to specific religious traditions. Yet, according to the literature, a perceived tension exists between faith and the contemporary academy, such that many universities that were founded as religiously affiliated institutions no longer retain their religious…

This is a qualitative action study to understand how elementary and middle school teachers perceive the misunderstandings of the roles, conflicts, and teaching strategies and how it can affect collaboration in the inclusive classroom between general education and special education teachers in the southeastern United States. The guiding framework…

Many mathematics teachers, at one time or another, have exclaimed that "I really didn't understand mathematics, until I had to teach it." Secondary mathematics teachers' knowledge, both subject matter and pedagogical content, plays an important role in their teaching of the subject. Teacher education programs are, therefore, designed to…

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived level of importance of and competence of Georgia's SBAE teachers when working with Students with Disabilities in the classroom and Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs). The participants in this study were high school agricultural education teachers in the state of Georgia. This study…

This mixed method action research study sought to empower teachers from Kenya and the United States together in a community of practice online. Three research questions were asked: 1) How might participants' awareness of their teaching situations and their roles within their systems grow? 2) How might dialogic engagement in a cycle of critical…

Required gateway courses in higher education present ongoing challenges to student persistence, retention, and degree completion. Adaptive learning technology (ALT) offers personalized support and generates learning analytics that can inform faculty teaching and course design practices. This qualitative case study examined faculty experiences with…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how leaders in educational organizations cultivate positive school culture through culturally responsive leadership practices while building teacher and administrator efficacy. Data collected from this study (a) highlighted how classroom teachers at the school sites promote culturally responsive…

In secondary ensembles, teachers navigate the demanding balance of developing music literacy skills while preparing for concerts. This challenge intensifies in online learning environments due to limited opportunities for instant feedback, ensemble synchronization, and fostering a sense of community. The problem was the lack of understanding of…