Understanding the needs of students who are English learners (ELs) and are also students with disabilities has become an area of policy and research in recent years. Uncovering the needs of this student group requires a closer examination and understanding of the Individualized Education Program (IEP). The IEP is a foundational process and…

Taking the form of three papers, this dissertation seeks to elaborate the role and experience of Black educators by shifting primary research perspective away from the classroom teacher to consider the systemic and organizational roles of racialized faculties. The first paper historicizes the 20th- and 21st-century stories of Michigan's Black…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to better understand school wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (SwPBIS) implementation through a multi-dimensional conceptual lens of leadership efficacy. This study examined the relationship amongst the PBS team, faculty commitment, and student behavior outcomes within 71 Elementary schools…

The problem addressed in this study was the disproportionate number of African American students who are suspended or expelled at a higher rate than their white counterparts in Michigan public schools. This research was framed with critical race theory and cultural ecology theory of African American students suspended. This study applied a Delphi…

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the psychometric properties of Friedman's (1999) Teacher Work-Autonomy Scale (TWA) in order to determine whether it was an acceptable instrument to measure U.S. teachers' autonomy in the present educational context. A second purpose was to ascertain the current status of teachers' perceptions of their…

Formal mentoring programs focus on the probationary period of new teachers. Providing teachers with mentoring support during the initial years of teaching requires significant commitment and investment from school districts, mentors, and new teachers. Numerous studies argue the merits of mentoring programs, yet the research has been less clear…