When school personnel and parents complete school climate surveys, results can inform team action planning to improve perceptions of school climate. Further, school climate data can assist in considering questions related to equity, disproportionality, and cultural responsiveness and appropriateness. The freely-available School Climate Survey…

The goal of this qualitative case study was to determine what institutional processes and practices have been developed in relationship to mass shootings and gun violence, as well as how mass shootings in educational settings impact the way a campus responds and prepares a safety plan. Through speaking with threat assessment team members, student…

Food allergies are increasingly common and affect approximately one in thirteen students in the United States (US). Anaphylactic reactions can be unpredictable, severe, and sometimes life-threatening if not treated quickly and appropriately. School health policies and education surrounding food allergies vary substantially within and between…

This dissertation and research looks into the area of Culturally Relevant Practices and hiring in K-12 schools and the potential effect on all students in having minority leadership present. The research dives into interviews of teachers, hiring leaders, district leaders and building leaders. It also uses survey results from over 700 students,…

This dissertation and research looks into the area of Culturally Relevant Practices and hiring in K-12 schools and the potential effect on all students in having minority leadership present. The research dives into interviews of teachers, hiring leaders, district leaders and building leaders. It also uses survey results from over 700 students,…

Sexual violence is one of the most serious issues on college and university campuses today. It is estimated that approximately one in five college women experiences sexual assault in their lifetime, and sexual assault has appeared on the AASCU's list of top ten issues in higher education almost every year for the last decade. However,…

The COVID-19 global pandemic has had major implications on the work educational leaders do on a daily basis, including frequently attending to health and well-being matters as well as operations in order to ensure the safety of all community members. At the same time, school leaders are tasked with maintaining a focus on instructional leadership…

Providing and using technical assistance for capacity building within educational agencies is a complex endeavor. The U.S. Department of Education funds technical assistance centers to support state education agencies (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs) in the capacity-building process. Established in 2018, the Center to Improve Social and…

The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center has created a list of resources on the role of special educators in school safety efforts. The list includes the following categories: (1) Access and/or Functional Needs (AFN) and Emergencies; (2) Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) Development; (3) Hazard- and…

With the intent of improving music teacher education for people of trans and/or gender-expansive (TGX) experience, the purpose of this study is to convey the voices and experiences of three TGX music educators. These data are drawn from four semi-structured interviews with three participants totaling 268 min. Utilizing transgender theory and…

School shootings are at an all-time high. That's according to the National Center for Education Statistics, which has been keeping track of the numbers for about 20 years. What are schools to do? Is there a "profile" of the typical school shooter that could help us identify those who might commit a shooting in the future? Is there some…

School systems are often not set up to support transgender and gender diverse (TGD) students, which results in unsafe and unsupportive environments and other institutional barriers to helping TGD students thrive. An important factor to students' feeling safe and supported in schools may be their relationship with school nurses. The purpose of this…

During the advancement of COVID-19, many safety protocols, including facial masks, were incorporated into public settings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2021), due to safety regulations, recommended wearing face masks when in close contact with other people in public environments, such as in a classroom, where social…

Using the state of Georgia as a backdrop, this paper highlights the current state of the GFSA (Gun-Free Schools Act) in the United States of America, initially enacted in 1994, 30 years later. The progress of school-based ZTPs (Zero Tolerance Policies) in practice shows that progress remains slow a quarter of a century later. In response, this…

One pathway to creating more equitable schooling is through schools becoming trauma sensitive. Students exposed to trauma are more likely to struggle in school compared to their non-trauma-exposed peers. Changing the school environment allows trauma-exposed students more opportunities to access academics. This qualitative study explores the…