Research on self-efficacy and how it is developed in K-12 educational spaces has primarily focused on traditional classroom spaces and activities. Little research has focused on self-efficacy development in the context of outdoor experiential learning. Through this study, I use focus groups, in-depth interviewing, and on-line journal prompts to…

Educational institutions have experienced growing pressures on retaining high-quality staff. The problem was resistance to learning new technology and low K-12 veteran teacher technology self-efficacy (Francom, 2020; Sabic et al., 2022), and the implications for changes in professional development leadership. The purpose of this qualitative case…

This study examined the perceived preparedness of educators working in Title 1 schools to address the mental health needs of students. Data were gathered from educators (defined as teachers and other school personnel; N = 299) employed by eight Title 1 public schools within one district in Florida, most of whom were K-5 teachers (n = 199).…

Students and workers require self-regulated learning (SRL) skills to meet the demands of the 21st century. These learners need to be actively engaged in learning by creating successful strategies for themselves directed toward specific goals. Many students, however, are not currently actively engaged in their learning and are thus ill-prepared for…

Christian school administrators are faced with daily decision-making responsibilities regarding several aspects of a school. Before this research study, there was little research in the field of education with Christian school administrators as the sample population. The aim of this correlational study was to examine Florida Christian school…

This qualitative narrative inquiry explores the experiences of school-based administrators in K-12 public school settings within the state of Florida who navigate the challenges of Impostor Phenomenon while concurrently pursuing a doctoral degree. The research draws on the personal stories of four participants--three women and one man--who are…

This study aimed to explore preservice teachers' perceptions of their preparedness to support students who have been exposed to or/are currently encountering adverse childhood experiences. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a form of trauma and are very likely to occur among students. Due to students spending a significant amount of time in…

Women have historically demonstrated more anxiety related to mathematics than men (Van der Sandt & O'Brien, 2017). The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore and describe how female elementary mathematics teachers' lived experiences influenced their beliefs and attitudes toward their self-efficacy in…

School safety is a primary societal concern due to catastrophic incidences of violence and educational leaders have a duty to ensure children's security. School shootings spotlight failures in school safety but educators and scholars cannot use tragedy to bridge the gap in high-efficacy practice. The problem is that school safety needs to improve…

Many STEM professional learning opportunities have been characterized as basic, disconnected, and ephemeral. This phenomenological mixed methods study addresses the growing demand for quality STEM educators by investigating the relationship between STEM professional development and teacher self-efficacy. While teacher efficacy has been identified…

COVID-19 presented educators with a quick transition to virtual teaching. The problem was that secondary teachers in southwest Florida had to overcome obstacles, including preparedness, to teach successfully using different modalities during the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research on this topic is important because teachers' perceptions will…

Postsecondary enrollment rates in the United States have grown tremendously; however, completion rates have not significantly changed over the last 20 years. Studies have found that International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) participants have higher postsecondary completion rates than their counterparts. The purpose of this qualitative…

Culturally competent teachers are in high demand as the English learner (EL), culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) student population increases in the U.S. However, the teaching force continues to be predominantly female, White, and monolingual, inexperienced in dealing with diverse populations. Typically, teacher preparation to teach ELs…

Leaders in education must focus on improving teacher attrition because teacher turnover contributes to lower student academic achievements by disrupting the learning environment for both students and teachers (Carver-Thomas & Darling-Hammond, 2017). This study took place in a North Florida School district where school and district leaders are…

A problem in the field of education is a high rate of teacher turnover. Because the problem is reaching a crisis level, the purpose of this qualitative descriptive dissertation study was to describe influences of an Educational Support Program for novice teachers relative to their feelings of support, job satisfaction, and teacher self-efficacy.…