The purpose of this action research study was to examine and improve school principals' time management to increase opportunities for instructional leadership. The only constant of a principal's day is the consistent need to prioritize various expected and unexpected demands and expectations that exist on a daily basis. This study investigated the…

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) provide the best setting for building collective teacher efficacy (CTE). CTE has been identified as having the highest positive effect on student achievement. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore perceptions of teachers and administrators regarding the effectiveness of PLCs for building…

This qualitative case study investigates how Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) influence teacher self-efficacy and collaboration in a rural school district. Using a qualitative case study approach, researchers will collect qualitative data through focus groups and interviews. Themes drawn from this study include trust and relationships as…

This dissertation investigates the impact of a pedagogical class and a Community of Practice (CoP) on the implementation of reading strategies by faculty at a community college. It explores the types of reading strategies instructors plan to use, their integration into classroom practices, the factors enabling or impeding this implementation, and…

Although scholarship has shown that new teachers struggle to make the transition to in-service teaching and enact the progressive practices that they learned during pre-service preparation, little research has explored how first-year teachers develop a justice-oriented practice during this transition. This project centers on a critical learning…

Teacher development is an area that is examined primarily by administration when discussing teacher retention and school improvement plans. Traditionally, teacher development has occurred through professional development opportunities such as workshops. However, in more recent years there has been a focus on developing teachers through…

The problem was that professional learning communities (PLCs) have not focused on topics relevant to teachers of students with developmental disabilities, limiting these teachers' professional development (PD) and their students' educational opportunities. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore whether fifth grade…

In today's educational system, there is a great emphasis on principals' leadership and impact on all students, particularly students with disabilities. Due to increased accountability, legal mandates, and the effects of the pandemic on student performance, strong elementary principals must lead the charge to improve the educational trajectory of…

Teachers of students at the Skipping School are tasked with teaching their students to read while managing a host of complex emotions and behaviors that negatively impact the quantity and quality of their instruction. The purpose of this Action Research study was to examine and lessen existing barriers to effective reading instruction for teachers…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how secondary school administrators describe their professional learning and productive partnerships in special education to lead in inclusive schools in public schools in the Northeast Region of the United States. The conceptual framework for this study is the Star Model developed…

This multiple-article dissertation explores institutional support for student academic engagement through the lens of the Academic Communities of Engagement (ACE) framework. A literature synthesis explores the current research on teaching assistant (TA) support in online and blended environments in higher education, with a special emphasis on…

The underlying assumption of this study is that writing as a process has profound implications for success and fulfillment both in and beyond the classroom. A second assumption is that electronic portfolios provide students a space to write, revise, reflect, share, and explore themselves as writers. Students who engage with and embrace the writing…

As a Black Southern woman with a personal history of overcoming systemic barriers, I, the researcher, serve as an Implementation Director for Pre-AP, assigned to support districts in the Midwest and Southwest regions. Implementation Directors for Pre-AP serve as the main points of contact for Pre-AP districts/sites across the nation, acting as…

Culturally proficient leaders model cultural competence for the entire school community. They create an environment where students from diverse backgrounds feel valued, respected, and safe. When students feel a sense of belonging and affirmation, they are more likely to engage in their learning and perform better academically. Hence, this…

Asian American women are underrepresented in college leadership positions, which signals the absence of Asian American women's voices and perspectives in decision making about institutional policies, procedures, and practices for the Asian student body. In addition, the lack of Asian representation, such as role models, mentors, and a diverse pool…