Black women who become school-based administrators are severely understudied in scholarly research (Lomotey, 2019). Studies suggest that Black women in the United States, who ascend into educational leadership positions, rely on professional training(s) associated with their employment and understandings accrued from inter/personal background…

Teacher leadership can be an important intervention for improving classroom instruction across K-12 public schools. Many researchers, policy-makers, and educators are calling for more teacher leadership. Yet, enhancing the impact of teacher leadership, in part, depends on a clearer understanding of the teacher leadership process. The ways in which…

This dissertation explores the issue of minority underrepresentation in K-12 educational leadership roles, examining its perceived causes and implications within academic settings. The research utilized a qualitative approach involving detailed surveys and interviews with school administrators from K-12 schools in Western North Carolina, Upstate…

This exploratory case study aimed to understand how the sudden and abrupt transition to distance education due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic of 2020 highlighted the vast differences in levels of readiness for adopting distance education among the public-school districts throughout the State of Connecticut. It explores the reasons behind the…

Research suggests shared leadership as a leadership style that produces positive outcomes. Specifically, the use of shared leadership in the school setting can lead to positive outcomes. However, there is minimal research that examines, and links shared leadership to positive outcomes in a Title I school setting. This research study examined the…

Quality early childhood education is crucial for lifelong success and societal benefits, yet early childhood teachers often struggle to establish their professional identity within the broader education community. Factors like support for developmentally appropriate practices, professional development, and a sense of belonging influence identity…

Little has changed about the physical properties of public schooling in the United States since the industrial revolution--desks, rows, and teachers at the front of the room (McCoy, 2007). Foote (2019) has argued there is no better way to create a more modern learning space than to do a complete redesign. Given the dramatic redefinition of…

Many students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) need evidence-based intervention in school, and applied behavior analysis (ABA) offers an array of treatment options shown to improve outcomes. However, in Michigan, ABA has not been thoroughly integrated into public schools. The present dissertation assessed the mechanisms thought to…

While research has been conducted on the importance of creating safe environments where LGBTQ+ students feel seen and respected (Hermann-Wilmarth & Ryan, 2019), little research has been completed on these spaces' impact on LGBTQ+-headed families. Understanding the impact belonging has on a sense of mattering (Strayhorn, 2019), it is essential…

School districts have attempted to implement many programs, initiatives, and frameworks to promote positive student behavior. However, despite these attempts, there remain inequitable student behavior outcomes in many public schools. Educational leaders who hold the position of building administrator in a public school district in Oklahoma were…

Concerns regarding low academic achievement among American secondary school students has increased over the years. While various studies have addressed the issue, not all factors contributing to student success have been sufficiently examined. The problem that was addressed through this study was the persistently low student academic achievement…

Native American students have consistently scored less than their white peers on high school academic achievement tests, have the lowest high school graduation rates, and have the lowest college enrollment rates. Research has evidenced challenges and struggles Native American children are faced with that negatively effects their success in the…

The American School Counselor Association states that school counselors are responsible for facilitating their students' personal, social, academic, and career development. Sometimes school counselors are called upon to do duties that have nothing to do with the field of school counseling. The problem addressed in this study was the need for…

This study examined school counselors' perceptions of how leadership styles affect work output, staff comradery, and employee morale. The research problem examined in this qualitative descriptive case study was work output, staff comradery, and employee morale differ greatly depending on the leadership style that the immediate supervisor…

Data have consistently revealed a major problem with disproportionality in several academic and social climate measures for African American students compared to their White counterparts. Black students tend to have lower end-of-course (EOC) testing scores in mathematics and reading, a greater tendency to be suspended from school, lower average…