This study examined the impact that a well-defined relationship between principals and coaches has on teachers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine participants at 2 middle schools in one district in New England; one principal, one coach, and four teachers were interviewed at one site, and one principal, one coach, and one teacher…

In an increasingly diverse nation, rife with racial unrest and systemic inequities, it is the responsibility of educators to ensure the academic equity of all students. This participatory action research (PAR) sought to incorporate student voice into a culturally responsive coaching cycle in order to create equity and shared power between students…

This qualitative action research study examined the SAGES academic coaching program, a pilot program for first-year students who identify as having a disability. The study focused on the student-coach relationship and goal setting during coaching. Five students and three coaches participated in the study. I observed one coaching session for each…

Coaching is an accepted on-the-job training and development approach for professionals in many career fields, including education, yet there is limited research on its efficacy in promoting sustained behavioral change and positive organizational outcomes. This basic qualitative study explored the perceptions of prekindergarten (PK) through…

Prior research indicates a connection between culturally responsive teaching practices and student engagement in the classroom. Color-evasive pedagogy, which can negatively impact students' understandings of content and course success, is also common in secondary social studies classrooms across the U.S. Factors contributing to color-evasive…

Literacy is a gateway to opportunity. In the United States of America, 79% of adults have adequate to proficient literacy skills that provide access to various career and life opportunities in society. However, 21% of Americans are illiterate. Upon further analysis of the literacy statistics in the United States, the data demonstrates there is a…

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are characterized by pervasive impairments, inhibiting social interaction and learning opportunities, often with ensuing behavior challenges (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Studies estimate that 25-30% of children with ASD do not develop flexible and consistent language (Hinzen et al., 2020; Schaeffer et…

In this qualitative ethnographic research study, I focused on a first-year assistant principal's leadership experiences in an urban PK-8 school environment and the coaching, mentoring, support, and training needed to develop an effective building administrator who will be retained in the assistant principal position. The guiding research questions…

The topic of the three chapters of this dissertation is empowering caregivers of children with or at high likelihood for autism to implement interventions in home settings with high fidelity to promote their child's social communication development. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the previous studies focused on caregiver-implemented early…

Goal-focused coaching is being used to assist individuals to set and reach personal and workplace goals (Grant, 2007). Thus, organizational leaders are increasingly investing in developing employee performance and well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and coaching among…

All teachers can benefit from peer coaching because it provides opportunities for them to grow in their craft by promoting collaborations, observations, feedback, and support from peers. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of peer coaching on teacher instructional practices, in the areas of preparation for instruction and teacher…

A review of the literature was conducted to collect information on students with severe disabilities and their capacity to gain literacy skills. Extensive research showed that students with severe disabilities progressed in reading when immersed in systematic literacy instruction encompassing both decoding and phonemic awareness. The Sussex…

Students needed to be able to read in elementary school to be successful in school and in life. Meanwhile, teachers graduated from teacher preparation colleges and not able to teach reading once they were in their own classrooms. Teachers who developed self-efficacy in the teaching of reading were the best teachers to teach reading. The purpose of…

Capacity-building family-centered practices are a fundamental component of Early Intervention (EI) service delivery, yet their adoption by EI practitioners remains inconsistent. Lack of sufficient practitioner training and overly broad recommended practices for practitioners are cited as potential barriers to their implementation. The triadic…

Facing the rapidly changing 21st-century education, educational organizations strive for innovative ideas to continuously motivate their teachers to enhance student performance. iLead is a district's pioneering attempt to incorporate transformational leadership's essential elements, the four I's, "Inspirational Motivation,"…