To stay up with society and technology, pedagogical changes are needed. Even a well-designed curriculum depends on teachers, who implement it. Knowledge drives this field's educators' actions. This dissertation examined how the Southwest New Mexico Elementary Mathematics Specialists (EMS) program affects elementary mathematics teachers' PCK.…

This qualitative study identified the culturally responsive school leadership practices implemented by principals serving in elementary schools with bilingual education programs in Southern New Mexico. By utilizing a phenomenological approach, this research revealed four major themes. These themes include (1) use of parental voice in school…

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to increase grit, growth mindset, and self-efficacy in pre-adolescent students attending a K-5 public elementary school in Northwest New Mexico by implementing intervention activities in which students were given opportunities to learn and develop grit and growth mindset, thus resulting in improved…

The relationship non-traditional school calendars have on student academic success has long been a topic of discussion among educational decision makers. Many early American schools operated on a non-traditional calendar year. Non-traditional school calendars typically operate on a normal 175-180 cycle of formal instruction; however, unlike the…

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted education systems worldwide, exacerbating longstanding educational disparities, particularly concerning technology access and utilization. This qualitative study explores amplified technology inequities in rural New Mexico education, capturing students' experiences through the lens of teachers. Using a…

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic began its effect on public school education. With online classes, students without remote access, and teachers with little to no experience in technology-based instruction, students, parents, and teachers were navigating the unknown. We have returned to campus, and routines are back in place, but education will…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how teachers describe their experiences and perceptions of professional development. Experiential learning theory drove two research questions: (1) How do elementary public school teachers in northwest New Mexico describe their experiences with professional development? (2) How do…

This study will determine the degree to which first grade literacy tests predict third grade reading performance in order to judge their value as "early warning systems" for reading skills. Reading skills are fundamental to many academic outcomes, so having an early sense of how students are reading is critical for schools. The first…

Published children's literature in the United States overrepresents some identities while underrepresenting others, such as people of color, LGBT people, people with disabilities, people who live below the poverty line (Crisp et al., 2016), and more. Thus, some children may not encounter text representative of their identities. As literature can…

The purpose of this paper was to examine K-12 teachers' classroom experiences with standardized testing in rural New Mexico schools. Standardized tests have significantly changed the landscape of education with the use of students' test scores as a determining factor for advancement or failure for teachers (Simpson, Lacava, & Graner, 2013).…

Due to variation that exists in providing Tier 2 reading intervention instruction, the purpose of the study was to identify processes and instructional strategies currently being utilized by K-2 teachers of the Gallup, New Mexico elementary schools. 17 teachers from 9 of the 10 elementary schools participated in the study. A survey instrument was…

This case study analyzes the effect of the Add+VantageMRRTM (AVMR) program on a teacher's pedagogy and on her students' progress in mathematics. AVMR, a professional development program in early mathematics, trains teachers to assess their students' progress and apply those insights to their teaching pedagogy. The AVMR assessment uses a…

"Hispanic Woman in Educational Leadership in Northern New Mexico" is an auto-ethnographic study which documents my experience as a Hispanic female elementary principal during one school term starting in July 2010 and ending in June 2011. Hispanic females outnumber men in the classroom as educators, especially at the elementary level;…

Much has been written regarding the dire educational state of most schools in rural America. This case study profiles two elementary school principals (preK-6) in rural New Mexico whose schools achieved adequate yearly progress (AYP) for the 2009-10 school year. The focus of this study centered on specific characteristics of the school cultures…

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) established a System of Support program that included certain mandates for schools in restructuring and school improvement within the framework of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The Bureau operates 184 elementary schools and 24 colleges nationwide. Some of the schools are required to utilize scripted…