Jesuit Catholic higher education in the United States is immersed in two seemingly incongruent missions: the advancement of the educational apostolic mission of the Catholic church and the advancement of U.S. secular culture. Understanding how Jesuit institutions have engaged the Catholic identity is becoming a concern because colleges need to…

Educators are vital in capturing students' STEM interest. An integrated approach to STEM education is necessary to promote students' interest and curiosity while building the foundation of STEM concepts needed to fuel the STEM workforce. This exploratory case study examined K-5 STEM educators' perceptions of a successful STEM elementary school.…

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…

Trauma-informed care is a relatively new construct in K-12 education, and districts across the United States are seeking avenues to meet the needs of their students. The COVID-19 pandemic elevated the need for districts to develop appropriate supports to address student and adult trauma. Traumatic events can affect a child's mental, physical,…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine middle and high school principal roles prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic to gain a better understanding about how leadership responsibilities adapted or changed. Data collection strategies included one-on-one interviews with nine middle and high school principals in East Tennessee. To…

As political and economic instability coupled with natural disasters continue to displace people around the world, migration and resettlement remain necessary. Hosting countries and communities grapple with how to meet the diverse needs of the refugees. Given that over a half of the refugees are under the age of 18 years (i.e., school-age children…

Conversations about ethical decision-making exist in a climate of misinformation within social and political forums. The issue of ethical decision-making in the context of educational leadership within a school environment has not been recently investigated. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to examine the perceptions of…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how leadership practices and attitudes affect teacher connectedness. A single research question guided the study: From the perspective of teachers and principals, what practices and attitudes of school leadership can help teachers to become better connected to their schools? Researchers have…

The purpose of this study is to discover the experiences and supports that influenced the development of teaching effectiveness at different career stages of National University alumni who were identified as County Teachers of the Year in California. National University is the second largest private, nonprofit institution of higher learning in…

Principals should lead for social justice, particularly in support of marginalized and vulnerable students like lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) adolescents. This quantitative survey-based study collected data from 116 middle grade principals in Indiana to examine the implementation of antibullying policies and best…

Building trauma-sensitive schools involves changes to school policy, practice, and culture and requires ongoing efforts to ensure that all students--including students affected by trauma--are experiencing social, emotional, and educational success. School and district leaders play a crucial role in bringing about change. Developing and sharing a…

The collegiate experiences of men of color--Black, Latino, multiracial, Native American, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander men--are influenced by a wide variety of factors that determine if and how they persist to reach college graduation. Subtle and overt acts of racism and microaggressions from peers and faculty often shape experiences in…

Principals are increasingly held accountable for school achievement. This paper reports the results of a mixed methods sequential Quan --> Qual research study to explore how middle school principals created a culture of academic optimism (AO) that promoted high student achievement (SA). Based on the analysis of AO scores from 26 schools, mostly…

Over a two-year period, approximately 70 teachers from 18 schools participated in an on-going professional development program as part of a study to promote the teaching and learning of numeracy. Principals and other school leaders were invited to participate in the professional development program alongside their teachers, which 20 leaders from…

Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) faces increasing teacher attrition and unsustainable levels of stress among teachers. Citywide pressures, such gentrification and lack of transportation, impact schools and teachers. OUSD currently has wellness programs both district provided (the Office of Health and Wellness) and through district…