This qualitative multi-site case study explores the self-identified traits of four Philadelphia schools that demonstrate growth in grade four proficiency on the Math Pennsylvania System of State Assessment (PSSA). Obtained proficiency/advanced scores on the PSSA show a drop from third to fourth grade cohorts during 2017, 2018, and 2019. In…

This qualitative case study examined communication strategies and interactional resources that junior and senior high school Spanish teachers use more often in their oral activities in central Pennsylvania public schools. A mismatch in students' knowledge and use of Spanish motivated the investigation. Twelve Spanish teachers were the purposely…

Teacher certification is a topic with a number of varying viewpoints to the requirements "quality" teachers need to instruct students in the 21st century career and technical education classroom. Numerous pathways to certification exist for individuals who have aspired to teach career and technical (CTE) students. This study examined the…

The purpose of this study was to explore how organizational structure is perceived to influence collaborative learning and integrated services in the non-academic department of human resources in three different types of universities in central Pennsylvania. The study focused narrowly on nine respondents, three heads and six middle management…

Teacher leaders are people who lead by example and, in this school, most are not afraid to speak up even if it is not politically correct. Teacher leaders are selfless people who are looking out for what is best for all, especially the students. They are risk takers. With the introduction of technology and accountability measures, education…

Since 1970, with the passage of Act 195 of 1970, collective bargaining in Pennsylvania has been an integral process in public schools (PSBA Bulletin, 2010). The success or failure of that process extends beyond the contract's duration; it becomes engrained in the school's culture and is noticeable to those who work, study, and live within the…

The following study examined the perceived developmental influence of the university supervisor-student teacher relationship during the student teaching phase of teacher preparation. Since the supervisor is viewed as the gatekeeper to eventual teacher certification and acts as an evaluator, mentor, and instructor (Borko & Mayfield, 1995;…

The purpose of this qualitative single-subject case study was to identify the elements critical to crisis management professional development for school principals; the factors influencing the implementation of the National Incident Management System Phases of Emergency Management (2010) for principals; and the necessary elements for fostering…

When hired to teach courses online, traditionally trained teachers may struggle to transition from non-online instructional delivery skills to research-based best practice strategies designed for the online classroom. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to examine how online K-12 charter school administrators perceived the…

The purpose of this case study was to examine the leadership team of one successful school district to identify the characteristics, vision, and practice of the team. The study examined specific situations that the members of the administrative team identified as significant in their growth. Specifically, the study identified the perceptions and…

Public school teachers within a Pennsylvania intermediate unit are receiving inadequate job-embedded professional development that recognizes knowledge of content, pedagogy, and technology integration, as outlined by Mishra and Koehler's Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework (2006). A school environment where teachers are…

With more than half of all higher education institutions in the United States located in or near urban areas, higher education institutions are particularly vulnerable to challenges faced today by cities, such as underperforming public schools, poverty, crime, economic disinvestment and residential abandonment in areas that surround their campuses…

This study sought to understand how and why Northampton Community College's Summer Bridge program--The Smart Start program--is highly successful at helping "at-risk" students transition to college-level work. For ten years, the Smart Start program has helped more than 150 incoming students acclimate to college, persist, and graduate…

Teacher efficacy has been researched for over 30 years, teacher efficacy refers to the beliefs of teachers in their abilities to have an impact on classroom management. Classroom management skills have been proven to be a plaguing aspect of the teaching and learning process over the past century. This study answers question about classroom…

This study harvested and synthesized information on K-12 online educators within the State of Pennsylvania through structured interviews and artifact evaluations. As parents, students, and the greater K-12 educational community look for innovative ways to increase rigor and student achievement in the 21st century, educational technology is viewed…