This mixed methods study was conducted within a highly diverse K-12 public charter school setting to address a need for targeted professional development related to the development of intercultural competence for teachers in public schools, given the growing gap observed between the cultural backgrounds of K-12 public school teachers and their…

The purpose of this study was to examine an abbreviated model of the Bully Busters Teacher Training Program (grades 6-8), paired with an added module designed to meet the needs of students with disabilities. The participants in this study were 14 teachers at a middle school in the Midwestern part of the United States. With regard to bullying…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of professional music teacher identity (PMTI) among stringed instrument teachers who are alumni of the University of South Carolina String Project (USCSP) preservice teacher education program. Using a fixed mixed method design, I first surveyed all USCSP alumni from the past 20 years…

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the Capturing Kids' Hearts professional development process as it relates to student-teacher relationships. This study sought to determine teachers' perceptions regarding student-teacher relationships. The study was to ascertain the effect of the Capturing Kids' Hearts professional development…

Using a framework for variations of classroom inquiry (National Research Council [NRC], 2000, p. 29), this study explored 40 inservice elementary teachers' planning, modification, and enactment of kit-based science curriculum materials. As part of the study, a new observation protocol was modified from an existing protocol (Practices of…

Teacher candidates' development into novice teachers is a social process that depends on their teaching context as well as the mentors who help them through the process. Viewed through the lens of social identity development theory and mentoring theory, this study used an embedded, mixed methods design to understand how and to what extent six…

The current study sought to establish whether simulated Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings using scenarios and actors may serve as an effective tool for assessing and improving pre-service special education teachers' ability to facilitate parent participation in legally correct IEP meetings with the introduction of a training…

John Dewey is known as the father of American experiential education. His views on building understanding in children through experiences in a correlated curriculum continue to influence educational practice to this day. His writings and experiments with experiential education also influenced music and arts education, most recently through the…

Cyberbullying is a growing concern, confounded by the limited training resources available for teachers. The problem undertaken in this study was determining the most effective way to teach teachers about cyberbullying given the limited 1-hour time constraint of a typical school in-service activity. Using a pre-test, post-test experimental…

The three articles in this dissertation explore in-service educator learning through participatory approaches, with an aim toward equity in education. Combining sociocultural theories of learning as increasing participation within social and cultural practices (Gutierrez, & Rogoff, 2003), and the political commitments of participatory action…

This paper is a proposal to address current and future shortages of quality teachers and teacher retention in all areas, but especially those critical need areas such as secondary math and science, and Special Education and World Language in all grades. It further provides a solution to recruit and retain a quality teacher workforce that is more…

Teacher in-service learning about education reforms like NGSS often begin with professional development (PD) as a foundational component (Supovitz & Turner, 2000). Teacher Leaders, who are early implementers of education reform, are positioned to play a contributing role to the design of PD. As early implementers of reforms, Teacher Leaders…

This study explored the potential benefits and barriers of using quick response (QR) codes as a means by which to provide audio materials to middle-school students learning Spanish as a foreign language. Eleven teachers of Spanish to middle-school students created transmedia materials containing QR codes linking to audio resources. Students…

This dissertation offers a collection of works examining team-based approaches to functional assessment-based interventions (FABIs) in schools, with an emphasis on practice-based professional development. Across chapters, we offer (a) a statement of the problem (Chapter 1), (b) a systematic review examining the extent literature on training…

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of general education teachers and capture how they differentiate instruction for students with special needs. The study ascertained teachers' understanding and implementation of differentiated instruction for elementary level students in first through third grade. The study will add to the…