New teachers felt unprepared as they entered their first year of teaching and were leaving the teaching field at a high rate every school year. Tennessee, like many other states, had a critical shortage of secondary mathematics teachers. Secondary mathematics has been considered a high-needs subject area. New teacher induction programs were…

The purpose of this mixed-methods phenomenological study was to investigate the relationship between professional learning community (PLC) implementation and teachers' perceptions of engagement, professional collaboration, professional growth, and ultimately collective teacher efficacy. This research study collected data from elementary school…

Teacher collaboration is an increasingly important aspect of the professionalism of teachers: it is a way to reflect on and improve teaching practices. Teacher collaboration has been associated with teachers' professional growth and an increase in self-efficacy. However, policy makers and educational leaders must understand which structures of…

Teachers are leaving the field of education in significant numbers. These numbers were further heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Districts and campuses are constantly challenged with recruiting, hiring, and training new teachers, especially in urban schools with low socio-economic and minority students. Although teacher attrition is a problem…

Historically, diversity and inclusivity in the educational system have only sometimes been as welcoming as today (Boroson, 2017; Osgood, 2005). According to the literature on inclusion in education, several factors have contributed to negative perceptions of students with disabilities participating in general education classrooms (Abawi, 2015;…

Over the last three years, there have been changes in education such a curriculum, culture, and purpose that has encouraged educators to become more collaborative and modify traditional classroom method of one educator working in isolation to a more team-teaching process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of teachers…

The problem addressed in this qualitative study is the rise in teacher job dissatisfaction and low rates of retention, which has resulted in a significant increase in teacher vacancies in school districts across the United States. The purpose of this study was to describe and understand the lived experiences of early-career secondary teachers with…

This dissertation examines the dynamics of research-practice partnerships (RPPs) through a qualitative multiple-case study that explores the boundary work between university researchers and K-12 practitioners. It is framed within Wenger's communities of practice theory and focuses on the concept of 'boundary work,' which is pivotal in…

The purpose of this action research study was to design, implement, and study a reciprocal mentoring program for online instructors in Writers' Studio (WS) at Arizona State University (ASU) and to explore what happened when instructors participate in the program. WS employs over 100 faculty who teach online in courses they do not design…

Most U.S. students with disabilities are served in general education classrooms, and this practice has resulted in the need for collaboration between general and special educators. Yet, educators feel unprepared to engage in teacher collaboration to support their students' needs. The goal of this study was to improve P-12 teacher collaboration and…

As the nation faces a worsening shortage of qualified teachers, it becomes as important as ever for educational leaders to foster strong school environments in which faculty members devote their careers. Research shows that the cohesiveness of individuals within a group, like a school faculty, has the power to enhance member experiences and…

There is an underrepresentation of African American males in K-20 education. The problem is that resiliency could be a factor that contributes to the underrepresentation of African American male leaders. Research suggests that American students could obtain their high school diploma without learning from an African American male instructor. Yet,…

Current research indicates that inclusive classrooms with students with disabilities are rising, and schools are challenged with shifting their structures and curriculums towards inclusion. This doctoral dissertation aims to understand pre-service program models and how they prepare teachers for inclusive environments, including their knowledge…

The purpose of this study was to understand the current reality of multilingual learner supports in schools in Greater Minnesota and align that current reality with the Minnesota Learning English for Academic Proficiency and Success (LEAPS) Act in order to make recommendations at the local level and advocate at a greater scale. This was an…

Three key aspects were revealed through the literature review of teacher evaluations. First, teacher evaluations have been controversial nationwide and revised from the outset. Second, the COVID-19 pandemic added a layer of complexity. Third, research on the state of teacher evaluations was minimal, particularly for California K-12 public schools.…