This dissertation delves into the dynamic interaction between picturebooks, culture circles, and social justice discussions in a second-grade classroom. Rooted in Critical Pedagogy, Transactional Theory, and Indigenous Social Justice Pedagogy, this study investigates two pivotal aspects. Firstly, it explores the issues raised by students in…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how health and relationship education teachers describe their teaching experiences with students learned cultural narratives and personal experiences while teaching health and relationship education in the public school classroom. The two main research questions were: RQ1: How do…

The American Association of Community Colleges has identified diversity, equity, and inclusion as important initiatives in redesigning American community colleges. One area of focus is having accessible resources for students with identified disabilities. However, intellectual disabilities are not as readily observable and often go unnoticed. This…

Nationwide, institutions are adding elements of volunteerism, civic engagement, and service-learning to both their mission statements and degree completion curriculum (American Council on Education, 2022; Campus Compact, 2022; Niehaus & Kavaliauska Crain, 2013, Reed, et al, 2015). However, very little research has looked specifically at the…

Digital competencies have become an essential skill set for most professions. The University of Delaware (UD) needs to recognize and give credit for the digital skills students bring to their graduate studies, and for digital skills learned while in graduate programs. The current structure of humanities graduate programs at UD does not offer this.…

This research investigates significant moments in college students' drawn life stories in mathematics with the aim of examining implications for STEM engagement and potential reasons for gender-related differences in participation in mathematics intensive STEM fields. My research employs drawn life stories in mathematics specifically focused on…

This qualitative case study explores how faculty and staff developing a strengths-based pedagogical approach to classroom instruction and assessment for neurodiverse students at one large public research institution describe what teaching approaches support or create barriers for dyslexic students' equity, engagement, and academic success. The…

Traditional commercial textbooks used in postsecondary courses are often problematic due to their rigidity, tendency to mirror the dominant culture, and the substantial cost imposed upon students (Junkala et al., 2022; Lambert & Funk, 2022; Wu, 2022). Although replacing these texts with open educational resources (OER) can facilitate more…

Student retention has been an issue that has plagued college institutions for decades. Many researchers have conducted studies to investigate the challenges associated with students staying enrolled at their institutions. Although challenges in student retention exist, for-profit colleges have fared better in student retention than community…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how K-2 teachers perceive the effectiveness of multi-sensory phonics methods used in conjunction with a standards-based reading curriculum on students' reading acquisition skills, students' decoding abilities, and student engagement in an inclusive classroom at a public charter school in…

Easily accessible, asynchronous professional learning can support new career technical educators' instructional skill development from their 1st day of employment. This two-cycle action research inquiry aimed to improve special education student engagement in the licensed trades curriculum by exploring the connection between teacher induction…

This study explores the efficacy of the Math Workshop Model in enhancing the capacity of secondary mathematics teachers to differentiate instruction, implement equitable teaching practices, and meet the diverse needs of students in mixed-ability classrooms. Through a mixed methods approach, including classroom observations, interviews, and surveys…

The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore affordances for STEM-related skills in a nature preschool in central Texas. Observations were conducted along with the collection of videos and photographs of four preschool-aged participants. Informal interviews were also implemented during data collection and observations. Semi-formal…

Students with disabilities are an underrepresented demographic in higher education institutions that is often overlooked and excluded with limited engagement strategies. It is imperative for postsecondary institutions to actively foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment for this student group. Little is understood about the impact of…

Over the past two decades, two-year colleges have seen a dramatic increase in enrollment rates of Black students. However, while two-year colleges have seen a rise in graduation rates of Hispanics, Asians, and White students, two-year colleges have not seen an increase in the graduation rates for Black students. The problem addressed in this study…