Disproportionate representation of historically underserved students in advanced placement programs, such as the IB program, is a persistent issue nationwide. Despite being called "the great equalizer," public education often perpetuates systemic inequities for marginalized students, including those living in poverty or belonging to…

This three-manuscript dissertation used a rapid PDSA to improve teacher efficacy concerning designing and teaching an unleveled 9th grade science class. Leveling and tracking can lead to inequitable outcomes and experiences for minoritized students. However, designing and implementing effective heterogeneous, unleveled classes that meet the needs…

This study investigates the impact of a professional development programme in formative assessment (FA) for high school mathematics teachers. Through a collaborative approach between researchers and in-service teachers, a 16-week online course was designed focusing on feedback strategies, peer co-assessment, and student engagement. A mirrored…

This autobiographical study of teaching and learning Algebra 1 was developed to examine classroom experiences through the lens of the researcher and to explore the perceptions of teachers and students involved in the study. The goal was to identify the quality, meaningful educational experiences in the classroom which led to the development of…

This case study reports on challenges and professional perspectives of vocational high school teachers working in a socially disadvantaged in rural Turkey. The data were gathered from 14 participants, including teachers, administrators and counsellor through individual and focus group interviews and classroom observations. The analysis found that…

Social, motivational, and instructional factors impact students' outcomes in STEM learning and their career paths. Based on prior research and expectancy-value theory, the study further explored how multiple factors affect students in the context of integrated STEM learning. High school STEM teachers participated in summer professional development…

In this study, I explored how (a) a team-based instructional method rather than a one-teacher-one-classroom, traditional teaching model and (b) an inquiry-based learning approach affected teachers attitudes and self-efficacy for teaching and students attitudes, self-efficacy, engagement, and connections to school. The study was conducted within…

The purpose of this study was to understand the perception of self-efficacy and training of teachers to teach high school students with disabilities in the regular education classroom in rural schools in Missouri. The theoretical framework for this study was Bandura's (1977) theory of self-efficacy. The participants in this study were high school…

Educational reform challenges teachers to integrate science and engineering practices in teaching the contents (Next Generation Science Standards [NGSS] Lead States, 2013; National Research Council [NRC], 2012; Lotter, Carnes, Marshall, Hoppmann, Kiernan, Barth, & Smith, 2020). However, research that reports teachers' experiences in…

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that have contributed to the drastic rise in student behavior referrals for ninth grade students in three high schools in Western New York when returning to in-person instruction after school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From an equity lens, each of our schools' data showed that there was…

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that have contributed to the drastic rise in student behavior referrals for ninth grade students in three high schools in Western New York when returning to in-person instruction after school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From an equity lens, each of our schools' data showed that there was…

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that have contributed to the drastic rise in student behavior referrals for ninth grade students in three high schools in Western New York when returning to in-person instruction after school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From an equity lens, each of our schools' data showed that there was…

The purpose of this study was to examine secondary band directors' self-efficacy toward concert, marching, and jazz ensemble pedagogy. Secondary purposes were to investigate potential relationships between secondary band directors' self-efficacy in concert, marching, and jazz ensemble pedagogy and their respective (a) demographics and (b) previous…

Mental health and well-being have been a strong focus in educational systems worldwide. While schools build systems of support, students who are experiencing internalizing and externalizing behaviors commonly displayed with mental health challenges may not have the perception of feeling included within the school climate or classroom instruction…

The purpose of this case study was to evaluate to what extent individual teachers in a small, rural high school have the capacity and pedagogical skills to teach non-English speaking individuals within a sociocultural theoretical framework. Using a mixed methods approach, this case study measured teacher efficacy and their use of best practices…