Special education teachers are asked to deliver high-quality instruction with compassion and care (Cipriano et al., 2016). The development of interpersonal characteristics that positively influence the quality of the interaction have been shown to be predictors of success (Callahan, 2019). Despite the critical impact of these soft skills on the…

The call for research in the special educator preparation community is needed to help provide successful strategies to support effective teaching and student learning (Brownell et al., 2019). The purpose of this study was to better understand the impact of a learning environment for pre-service educator self-efficacy and their implementation of…

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to learn more about the experiences of school principals pertaining to special education leadership and the management of special education teachers in their buildings. The researcher hoped to become aware of how public-school building principals first learned about special education and…

K-12 educational systems are currently facing the issue of special education teachers leaving their positions prematurely and the struggle to retain highly qualified special education teachers. The attrition rate of special education teachers continues to rise due to the demands placed on this group of teachers, such as behavior and discipline…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on special education student teachers while they were doing the practicum. A constructivist grounded theory approach was used to analyze interviews of 11 special education teachers who completed their practicum experience in the spring of 2020, when the…

Every student receiving special education services in a school must have an Individualized Education Program describing all supports and services needed to support the student. An IEP is the avenue for students with disabilities to have access to education. Ensuring that special education teachers are competent in writing and implementing…

This study investigated reasons special education teachers leave their current position and ways campus administrators can promote special education teacher retention. The persistent issue of special education teacher shortages has a negative impact on the success of students receiving special education services. Research surrounding supports…

This exploratory, mixed-method study investigated how strength-based approach to mathematics instruction (SBAMI) influences the academic optimism of general education and special education pre-service teachers (PSTs). Academic optimism, linked to student achievement in previous research, was used as the theoretical framework. Data included…

The well-being of special education teachers is paramount to ensuring a high-quality and sustainable education system for students with disabilities (Sawatske et al., 2024). The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore, in a large, southeast Texas school district, the perceptions of secondary special education teachers…

This mixed-methods ethnological research study examined general education and special education teachers' perceptions of preparedness to include students with significant behavioral disabilities in the general education environment. The study used concepts within social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986) to understand possible connections between…

This dissertation presents a qualitative study investigating the challenges encountered by Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) teachers during the dynamic landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants, comprising ECSE teachers, shared their experiences, highlighting key themes such as transparent decision-making, a yearning for…

The Conservative Dual Criteria (CDC) method is known to improve decision-making accuracy in users when interpreting graphed data. The effectiveness of this method with in-service special education teachers, however, has not been investigated. The present study examined the effects of a virtual training package designed to improve the data-based…

Considering the significance of integrating students with disabilities into general education classes in Mississippi, it is critical to identify the methods by which co-teachers report working together, whether they have obtained the needed professional development, and which teaching model they employ in the inclusion classroom. This data can…

As more students consistently access the general education classroom as their least restrictive environment (LRE), the responsibility of Individual Education Plan implementation (IEP) is up to the general and special education teachers. Previous studies indicated that communication characteristics between general and special education teachers…

At the same time that legislative mandates and accountability measures are imposed on schools and districts related to the academic performance of all students, including those with disabilities (SWD), an increasing number of SWD are placed in general education settings. This shift in practice calls for more attention regarding how leaders and…