Low performing schools remain an issue within Louisiana. The problem addressed by this study was low student performance in underperforming schools due to lack of understanding in pedagogy by teachers. The use of master teachers as instructional coaches is one way this school district sought to improve student achievement. The purpose of this…

This qualitative case study explored the pivotal role of staff development teachers (SDTs) as instructional leaders and their impact on teacher professional growth within elementary schools. While ample research has illuminated the essential components of effective professional development, there remains a gap in understanding the intricate…

Student success is inextricably linked with the assessment of student learning, and the literature cites the need for faculty engagement in the assessment process. However, many issues related to the assessment process may be considered demotivators by faculty. The purpose of this study is to examine whether faculty motivation to participate in…

This dissertation explores the dynamics of a formal classroom and an informal nature-based learning environment, focusing on their impact on student subjectification and knowledge authority. The study, conducted with a cohort of 27 fifth-grade students and their teacher, employs a comparative case study methodology to analyze how teaching…

This qualitative study examined how educators' relationships with businesses impacts the nature of and access to work-based learning opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The study used the social network constructs of tie strength, density, reciprocity, and trust to explore relationship structures between…

The problem addressed by this study was that educators struggle with knowing which authentic literacy instructional practices and strategies were effective for improving student engagement and achievement levels in the middle grades. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory multiple case study was to examine the instructional strategies related…

Access to and engagement with high quality and relevant professional development is essential for educators to keep up with the latest evidence-based practices in teaching and learning. However, teacher dissatisfaction with professional development offerings is an all-too common occurrence in the field of education which often limits the transfer…

This dissertation examines the effect of a Buddhist-based program of mindfulness, taught as part of the curriculum of a graduate program, on the relationship of teacher-practitioners with their work. Collecting data on the experiences of three cohorts over a nearly three-year period, this longitudinal case study examines the experiences of…

Quality physical education, pivotal for the development of physical, social, and emotional skills for an active and healthy lifestyle (Society of Health and Physical Educators [SHAPE] America, 2014; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization [UNESCO], 2021), has been globally marginalized, necessitating a heightened focus on…

This multiple case study explored the professional identities of teachers at the intersection of mathematics and language learning. Situated within a neoliberal schooling context, teachers were required to adapt standardized instructional goals and practices to support the cultural, linguistic, and academic backgrounds of new-arrival refugee and…

The difficult teaching, scholarship, and service demands on community college faculty may reduce job satisfaction, which disadvantages 'new majority' students. The purpose of this Action Research study was to examine the relationship between sustained educational development and tenure-track careers to improve the experiences of full-time faculty…

This dissertation reports on how one school community engaged in a professional development grant initiative that incorporated teacher leadership. Teacher leaders may have numerous roles and responsibilities that support the professional learning and instructional practices of school communities. This study examined the experiences of three…

Accountability pressures are substantial and growing in higher education. Regional accreditors have assimilated the language and purpose of assessment as part of the reviewing cycle for re-accreditation with the intention of making institutions more responsive in demonstrating improvement of student learning outcomes. Despite this, educational…

In 2020, higher education face-to-face classrooms suddenly came to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and institutions transitioned traditional face-to-face courses to an online learning environment to maintain student enrollment and the continuation of education. Classroom instructors now faced the challenge of this transition and had to learn…

Researchers have concluded that parental involvement is necessary for students' success in school because parent involvement in school activities can positively affect children's learning and school experiences. Parent presence and participation is lacking in an urban school district in western Tennessee. The purpose of this study was to…