This explanatory sequential mixed methods study examines what influences 7th and 8th grade rural middle school students to consider a potential career trajectory. Phase One of the study includes a demographic and career cluster interest survey of 38 participants. Phase Two of the study focused on 23 of the 38 Phase One participants, who were…

In the United States, there exists a significant disparity between the racial demographics of teachers and students, with a majority of educators being white. This mismatch underscores the critical shortage of teachers of color (TOC). While race does not determine teacher quality, a teacher's race, ethnicity, and language do shape the experiences…

Black male teachers comprise 2% of the teacher population in the United States. In light of this disparity, there is a need to diversify the teacher workforce by recruiting and retaining Black male teachers. Black teachers are influential in students' academic performance and personal growth. Without their presence, we are missing a key…

There is little attention and consensus in science education for gifted learners, leading to insufficient support and understanding of their needs, which hinders their potential development as future scientists and professionals. Utilizing a narrative research design, the study explores the experiences of nine scientists identified as gifted in…

Increasing attrition rates affect the quantity and quality of teacher human capital worldwide and pose threats to classroom practice and student learning outcomes. Understanding of these effects will be advanced by studying the reasons why preservice teachers leave or remain in the teaching profession. Literature indicates a range of influential…

The purpose of this study was to understand why African American males decided to enter the counseling field, how they sustained themselves, and how they perceived their role as African American male counselors in the counseling field. This study described the experiences of African American male counselors while exploring the history of males in…

College students are asked to make critical decisions about which academic major to choose and subsequently to make specific career decisions. Students come to college with a myriad of different skill sets, backgrounds, developmental levels, cognitive processes, familial support, and levels of self-efficacy that may influence how they make these…

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on teacher attrition in Arkansas, with many educators facing unprecedented challenges and stressors in their work. However, public data does not give context to why teachers chose to leave. This study aimed to investigate teacher perceptions of the impact of the pandemic on attrition in Arkansas…

This research study was conducted to determine what motivational factors influenced female and minority students to pursue a career in healthcare. Using Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, this quantitative study suggested that there are three distinct motivational factors influencing female and minority students to pursue a healthcare as their…

There is an underrepresentation of South Asian American K-12 teachers in the United States compared to those employed in the science and technology fields. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to explore the stories of K-12 South Asian American teachers to understand what impacted their career path and gain an understanding of the…

Introduction: The physical therapy (PT) profession has a tradition of growth driven by interest and societal needs. Recent discrepancies in workforce modeling suggest looming issues impacted by declining application rates. Modern facilitators and barriers for entering the PT profession need exploration to assist key stakeholders in making informed…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine undecided first- generation students' experience with academic advising at a community college and whether receiving advice from an academic advisor helped guide them towards a major. The researcher conducted one-on-one-interviews with ten students using a protocol based on three research…

This study sought to understand how undergraduate women from different racial and ethnic backgrounds make meaning of the different career messages they receive and how those messages shape their early career decisions. The study was framed by vocational anticipatory socialization (VAS) and meaning making. Participants reflected on the career…

There are eleven million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. Approximately two million are young people under the age of twenty-four. Although they came to the United States as children and were essentially raised and educated here, they remain without a pathway to legal permanent citizenship. Relatively little is known about the…

The issues of teacher persistence, retention, and migration have long impacted several countries, including the Philippines. These issues affect the sustainability of schools and the quality of education. In the Philippines, the problem is evident in private schools, including Catholic institutions, where teacher migration to public schools for…