Today's college students can choose from a multitude of learning modalities. Many students elect to earn their degrees through 100% online college programs; however, online learners present higher attrition rates than their on-ground peers (Grau-Valldosera et al., 2019). Many theorists attempt to explain how students can succeed in college,…

This doctoral action research dissertation is coauthored as a qualitative three-article dissertation; each article leverages a different qualitative approach to the research. Article 1 focuses on the existing depth of literature regarding higher education faculty and their practice of social justice within their roles. Article 2 is a critical…

The resolution of educational disparities for Hispanic students is a continual endeavor embedded deeply in historical, societal, and educational norms. Without deliberate structural and systematic initiatives, these educational inequities cannot be eliminated. This interpretive qualitative study delved into how New York state suburban,…

This study investigated the comprehensive implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) within a school district, focusing on the engagement and collaboration of educators in refining and executing MTSS strategies. The problem investigated was the effectiveness of MTSS implementation and collaboration among educators. This action…

The study of culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) within a social and emotional learning (SEL) program is timely as it supports the increasing body of literature on narrowing the educational gaps prevalent among Black students. Current research is lacking regarding if and how educators utilize CRP to support the learning of SEL competencies with…

Teachers significantly impact students' academic success amidst life difficulties and societal influences (Harlacher & Merrell, 2010; Malureanu & Enachi-Vasluianu, 2021). This qualitative research study was designed to understand the impact of implementing a district-wide social-emotional learning initiative from the teachers' perspective.…

Guided Pathways is a systemic reform movement focused on increasing community college completion rates and student achievement (Bailey et al., 2015b). Within the California community college (CCC) System, every college is implementing Guided Pathways, and the California Community College Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) continues to use this framework…

This qualitative case study provided insight into the effectiveness of rural school leaders' implementation practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study addressed the need for knowledge regarding school administrators' and educators' perspectives on the practice changes necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative case study aimed…

The problem addressed in this study was that teachers struggle to apply the middle school concept in three middle schools in the U.S. region of New England. This study was a qualitative investigation of teachers' perceptions of the middle school concept and their needs for additional support to effectively apply it. The conceptual framework for…

The goal of this mixed methods study was to examine educator and student perceptions of the implementation of social-emotional learning (SEL) and the RULER (i.e., recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating) approach in a Catholic school. The study investigated the perceptions of teachers, staff, and students about the…

Research shows that trauma-informed practices in schools can increase student performance and well-being. School social workers are well-suited to bring these practices to their system but are most successful when partnering with public-school superintendents. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to understand public-school…

Literacy coaches serve in a multitude of roles and play a critical role in bridging district and school priorities (Walpole and Blamey, 2008; Steckel, 2009). Currently, coaches and teachers are navigating a national policy shift to Science of Reading (SoR) aligned instruction, and educators want more than a new curriculum (Schwartz, 2022). This…

Through the use of the Program for International Student Assessment's (PISA) Global Competence results, the Economic Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Democracy Index ratings, and centralization-decentralization spectrum rubrics, this dissertation shows the association between level of democracy and education system, and the association of these variables…

The purpose of this study was to explore teacher and administrator perceptions of teacher evaluation system modeled after "Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching" (Danielson, 2007). It is universally agreed that teachers are the most significant variable to student educational outcomes. Extensive research has been…

This study investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs and the relationship between the principals' leadership styles and actions as they implemented in elementary schools in New York State. This study uses Bolman and Deal's (2006) Wizard and Warrior framework. The SurveyMonkey…