To influence student achievement and improve learning outcomes, building leaders are expected to exercise key elements of instructional leadership. School leaders experience barriers to engaging in efforts to increase teacher effectiveness and guide instructional improvement, due to the demands on their time as they balance the operational,…

Through a basic qualitative approach this study examined the leadership styles of superintendents to determine if the styles of leadership have a positive, negative or no impact on student achievement. The perceptions and practices of the leadership styles of traditional pathway and alternative (non-traditional) pathway of superintendents is also…

Although notably underrepresented in role and research, Black women bring a strong presence to higher education institutions--leading academic, research, and business operations from senior and executive roles. Black women senior leaders serve as change agents strategically leading their organizations to become better, stronger, and more effective…

Reading achievement continues to be a significant focus in the U.S. educational system. Despite an abundance of evidence about the importance of early reading instruction, prior research has shown that many pre-service and in-service general education and special education teachers are not knowledgeable about basic reading concepts. Less is known…

School mental health services are essential for addressing youth mental health needs. To accomplish this goal, school teams manage the implementation of school mental health services. However, there is limited research on how SMH team composition and multidisciplinary impacts the delivery of services. To address this knowledge gap, this study used…

A school leader representation gap exists in the nation's public schools. There is an underrepresentation of public-school leaders of color, which results in inequity of cultural values and diverse leadership perspectives that impact recruitment, retention, and student success. Only 22% of school leaders identify as people of color, while 53% of…

This study explored teachers' perceptions of administrative support of teachers' well-being through the lens of servant-leadership. The participants in this qualitative study were 20 middle school teachers. To explore their perceptions of administrative supports, a closed- and open-ended survey was administered to ascertain responses to the…

The devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on schools world-wide required school leaders to provide effective, decisive leadership for their students, staff, and communities. The purpose of this interpretive qualitative study was to discover the systems and processes that framed leaders' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study focuses…

Public school campus administrators shape and build the campus learning environment through the policies and structures that they develop. Clarity through campus expectations and alignment to a common set of standards allows faculty and staff opportunities to align efforts - trainings, modeling opportunities, support networks - and exposure to…

Today, technology plays a crucial role in the daily lives of young children, even in their pre-kindergarten education. In an explanatory sequential mixed methods study, I addressed the following guiding question: "What are urban pre-kindergarten directors' self-reported behaviors associated with the International Society for Technology in…

This study addresses the problem that senior academic administrators cannot perform the essential functions of their leadership positions in higher education. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the perceptions of senior academic administrators at a private university in northern Illinois regarding the necessary…

Middle and high school administrators in a Midwest school district needed to implement strategies to support parent involvement. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine how middle and high school administrators implemented strategies to support parent involvement that may influence student achievement. The conceptual framework…

There have been previous attempts to define the roles and responsibilities of the SpEd Director however, the current position of SpEd Director is not clearly defined. The purpose of this convergent parallel mixed methods study was to provide a clear view of what the position of SpEd Director currently requires. Specifically, this study was…

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have had a solid and rich legacy of providing Black students educational opportunities since the late 19th century. Having a distinct educational history, HBCUs have a historical purpose linked to providing an educational experience to Black students during an era when higher education…

Trusting relationships between teachers and students is a cornerstone of success in the classroom. As a means for continuous professional growth, teachers should have an understanding of other teachers' positive experiences with and accessible strategies for how to build these relationships. Current research is missing the narrative voices of…