The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of school building leaders (SBLs), also referred to as principals, regarding their facilitation of social justice leadership (SJL) and culturally responsive school leadership (CRSL) practices to support student inclusion and belongingness within…

This dissertation presents a mixed-data investigation aiming to comprehensively understand math anxiety in teachers. Math anxiety is defined as "feelings of tension and anxiety that interfere with the manipulation of numbers and solving of mathematics problems in a variety of ordinary life and academic situations" (Richardson &…

This study aims to address the gap in technology integration within rural Oklahoma schools by examining teacher perceptions regarding the barriers preventing them from effectively integrating technology into their instruction. The findings from this study will offer valuable insight into understanding the current state of technology integration in…

There were concerns in both quantity and quality of principal candidates regarding training experiences and principals being prepared to lead schools. Research was limited when it came to principal preparation programs (PPPs) training rural, East Tennessee school principals to become instructional leaders and school district leaders providing…

The purpose of this quantitative predictive correlation research is to determine if and to what extent perceived principal leadership styles predict teacher job satisfaction for K-12 educators in an education association in a northeastern rural school district in North Carolina. Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs…

The purpose of this study was to understand the deciding factors of teachers who have accepted a teaching position, or continue to remain in a teaching position, in rural K-12 public schools in central Illinois. Staffing a school of fully qualified teachers remains one of the most important and difficult challenges to school districts throughout…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how rural K-12 leaders in Utah describe their leadership practices. The theoretical framework was based on Robert Greenleaf's Servant Leadership Theory. This study explored three research questions pertaining to: How Rural K-12 leadership practices were described, challenges that…

Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing reliance on technology underscored the need for K-12 teachers to be digitally competent and able to teach their students 21st century digital skills. The purpose of this quantitative correlational predictive study was to examine if and to what extent perceived usefulness of technology and perceived…

This non-experimental quantitative research study examined K-12 rural Alabama teachers' perceptions of teacher leadership, focusing on the four factors of the Teacher Leadership Inventory and the potential differences in perceptions based on teachers' gender, educational degree, years of experience, and job position. I used a survey research…

Despite interventions to decrease teacher turnover, there remains a 16-24% teacher turnover rate at one Southeastern School District (SSD) in the United States. There is a gap in practice related to the successes and challenges of retaining teachers in the local setting. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the teacher…

English language (EL) students' English language proficiency (ELP) scores directly impact a school district's College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) score, measuring whether Georgia meets accountability requirements. English language proficiency for English language learners (ELLs) is measured by the ACCESS for ELLs assessment. The…

This qualitative exploratory case study delves into the intricate experiences between teacher leadership and school improvement factors, focusing on the unique context of rural areas. School leaders and educators possess a limited comprehension of the potential roles and necessity of teacher leaders in driving school improvement efforts.…

The outcomes of special education learning and transition services for K-12 public school special education graduated students is less often investigated in the field of education. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to understand the perspectives of post-high school K-12 graduated students concerning their perceptions of the…

This embedded mixed methods case study described the decision-making influences relevant to Wisconsin rural school district's consolidation. In 2015, Wisconsin's K-12 schools experienced financial cuts that were amongst the largest in the country. As a result, school district interest in consolidation was a natural topic of discussion for many of…

Educator retention is a concern plaguing the nation. Schools struggle yearly to fill positions for classroom educators as teachers leave the profession. This phenomenological study examined a rural Central Texas school district and its educators' perceptions of retention issues. Multiple classroom educators were interviewed at a Title 1 rural…