The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to examine the lived experiences of K-12 school leaders who were presented with a variety of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first primary research question was: What are the lived experiences of K-12 school leaders as it pertains to the social, emotional, and mental health…

The focus on equity and inclusion in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s led to the creation of Upward Bound (UB). The core mission of UB is to prepare high school students with the academic and social skills necessary to enroll in post-secondary education and beyond. However, there is a lack of empirical studies on how the growth of students'…

Homework enables students to practice what they learn from classroom instruction. However, students' off-task behavior may negatively impact their engagement and performance during homework activities. Self-monitoring is an evidence-based intervention associated with improved engagement and decreased off-task behavior. Compared to traditional…

Although knowledge about effective teaching and learning exists, and theories of change strategies are considered, the lack of the understanding of the behavior of engineering faculty during curricular change remains a major contributor against robust efforts for change. In this work, faculty adaptability is conceptualized as self-regulation…

Emotional intelligence (EI) has been related to facets of higher education success in brick and mortar environments. Little is known, however, about how EI manifests in higher education distance learning (HEDL) environments. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore HEDL undergraduate and graduate instructor perceptions of their…

Student retention is a major issue that has spanned multiple decades in higher education in the United States, corresponding with greater access to higher education and a rise in non-traditional students. Innumerable challenges can interfere with a student's academic performance or ability to remain in and complete a degree program. All manner of…

Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) struggle with isolation, loss of acquired skills and independence when they complete high school. Despite positive outcomes with individual involvement in Supported Employment or time limited Post-Secondary Education programs, previous research indicates that there is a gap in the…

This current study explored outcomes of SEL competencies including self-efficacy toward classroom performance, emotion regulation, stress, and the use of breathing and mindfulness strategies after implementing SEL-based yoga programming among youth Grades 3 through 5 (N=403). Findings indicate that SEL-based yoga programs support stress reduction…

In the age of computing, we rely on software to manage our days, from the moment we wake up until we go to sleep. Software predicts the future based on actualized data from the past. It produces procedures instead of experiences and solutions instead of care. Software systems tend to perpetuate a normalized state of equilibrium. Their application…

By the end of March 2020, schools worldwide shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Students and teachers in many cases were forced to adopt Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) with varying levels of success. ERT has key differences with true distance education, mainly the length of time spent planning ERT and distance courses, and the intent to…

This dissertation explores strengths-based approaches to literacy development with social-emotional assets. A mixed-methods study was used to conceptualize, design, and investigate the practical need for an instrument kindergarten through second-grade teachers could use to identify students' social-emotional assets for literacy independence in…

Preservice and newly graduated elementary general education teachers are often underprepared to support students who engage in challenging behaviors. The purposes of this mixed methods study were to (a) explore preservice teachers' knowledge of, experiences with, and needs for using behavior management strategies to address students' challenging…

Emerging adulthood, the period of time between adolescence and adulthood, is full of new adjustments. During this time, individuals must acclimate to heightened expectations with diminished support. Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience even greater academic and vocational difficulty during emerging adulthood…

First-generation college students are a population of students who are often under-served in higher education institutions. Previous research indicates their well-being is impacted by their experiences within the collegiate environment, which contributes to their lower retention and graduation rates. The purpose of this qualitative research study…

Elementary special education teachers are required to provide online learning instruction to students with disabilities as schools are navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic with a lack of information as to how to do so successfully. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of elementary special education…