The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to examine if a predictive relationship existed between teachers' sense of efficacy and the dimensions of instructional leadership considered both collectively and individually, among K-12 teachers in North Carolina. The Instructional Leadership Model and Tschannen-Moran and…

Virtual education, once a niche educational option, has grown in popularity throughout the US (and the world) post-COVID-19. However, the lack of systems and structures in place to implement virtual learning environments during the pandemic left many questioning the validity of virtual education. Now on the other side of the pandemic, NC virtual…

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…

This qualitative research study explores the nature of the nested contexts (historical, political, socio-cultural) within which migrant youth experience restrictive immigration policies in North Carolina, while also examining how these youth perceive and experience the enactment of these policies through an interpretive policy framework combined…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived leadership experiences of Black women principals in Title I schools in North Carolina. The theories guiding this study are Black feminist thought and Intersectionality which amplify and center the voices of Black women. The central research question for this study was "What…

Small rural schools often struggle to facilitate true professional learning communities (PLCs) when there is one teacher per grade level in the building. The district selected for this study contained four elementary schools with one teacher per grade level and a combined middle and high school to collect perception data. Utilizing a concurrent…

As beginning teachers face challenges and seek support, many never receive the guidance needed to help them become effective teachers. Lack of support can build obstacles that lead to job dissatisfaction and failure to retain teachers. Nationwide, states have adopted legislation to require induction programs for new teachers to improve teacher…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools across the United States were closed for a significant period of time. During this closure, schools moved to a remote format and teachers tried to educate students to the best of their abilities. School principals had to be the glue that held the school together. This study was designed to examine principal…

The study delves into the utilization of ESSER III funds, revealing three central themes: top-down decision-making in fund application, varied experiences among educators and administrators in fund usage, and distinct roles of educators and administrators in the process. It emphasizes strategic resource allocation, collaborative decision-making,…

Despite acknowledgement in the data-informed decision making (DIDM) literature that data use is not a purely rational process, there has been little attention paid to the role of values and normative factors that underpin school improvement planning (SIP) processes and little consideration of the inherent evaluative nature of associated activities…

The term engagement appears in teacher effectiveness models as well as state and federal legislation, including the most recent reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Schools Act of 1965 (ESEA), known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), enacted in 2015. Legislators and administrators have charged teachers with engaging all students…

This qualitative phenomenological study addressed the underrepresentation of Black males in education by exploring the professional and lived experiences of Black male educators in urban North Carolina schools. The study utilized Critical Race Theory (CRT) to contextualize the lived experiences and persistent struggles of Black male educators and…

The COVID-19 pandemic forced widespread K-12 school closures, which has required teachers to provide meaningful educational learning opportunities in contrast to their traditional brick and mortar schooling. The unprecedented disruption of education charged many teachers with learning new classroom management practices, technology, instructional…

This research study examined current reflective practices used by kindergarten through 12th grade teachers in a single school district in North Carolina. The study sought to identify themes regarding the impact reflection has on teacher effectiveness, with effectiveness being measured by the five teaching standards of the North Carolina Department…

This qualitative, exploratory, comparative case study examined plant-based innovations in Title I PK12 public-school nutrition programs (PSNPs) in the context of the School Health Index (SHI) and Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) objectives. The study explored the perceptions of PK12 superintendents, school board members, nutrition…