There is a problem in the state of Michigan's evaluation system regarding the training received by those conducting classroom teacher observations. A performance gap between teachers and students and provides training solutions for classroom observers was identified. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of…

Improving reading instruction for English language learner (ELL) students is a growing concern at a K-5 urban elementary school in a large city in a Midwest state. Classroom teachers are challenged in their knowledge and skill set to consistently and effectively integrate the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) model in their…

Teacher education programs have the responsibility of preparing future educators to teach in ways that support student learning and foster deep understanding of subject matter. For this reason, it is important teacher education programs support preservice teachers' development of subject-matter knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge. One of…

This study focused on the regenerative potential of peer observation in a post-pandemic educational climate. Teachers shared that the culture of the profession was drastically changed during and after the pandemic partly due to the restrictions put in place that prevented colleague relationships from beginning or continuing and partly due to the…

The study examined how a collaborative teacher team developed common understandings of and implemented culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP) to support African American students. Utilizing participatory action research (PAR) as the primary methodology, a group of educators broadened and deepened their understanding of CRP and concentrated their…

Teaching can be an isolating profession. One way for teachers to learn from one another and develop collaborative professional relationships is through peer observations. One of the high schools in central New Jersey implemented a peer observation program called Professional Learning Visits, or "PLVs". This study sought to determine the…

This research describes the application of improvement science focusing on implementing restorative practices (RP) to decrease suspension and expulsion rates of Black students. Black students are suspended and expelled disproportionately compared to their White peers in South Carolina. Due to the high suspension and expulsion rates, school…

The purpose of this multiple-case study was to explore and describe intentional spiritual formation practices used with third and fourth grade students enrolled in Association for Christian Schools International (ACSI) member schools. The study took place in four elementary school settings in two different states, using a replication design with…

Providing high-quality professional learning opportunities for teaching staff is a key responsibility for school leaders that can lead to increased teacher capacity and higher student outcomes. Instructional coaching is a professional development model that has gained in popularity over the past decade. An instructional coach is an individual who…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to use an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) approach to discover generative instructional and assessment practices of teachers in the language arts classroom at a 5th and 6th grade low socioeconomic public school campus in Texas that earned five distinctions or three consecutive years. The study sought to design a…

Title: What are the observable correlates of the Aha! moment, and how does this moment relate to moving from surface to deep thinking? Background: The purpose of this study is to provide reliable evidence of the observable correlates of the Aha! moment and what this means for moving from surface to deep thinking. This research can lead to the…

In this dissertation, I explored the pedagogical content knowledge of in-service high school educators recently assigned to teach computer science for the first time. Teachers were participating in a professional development program where they co-taught introductory computing classes with tech industry professionals. The study was motivated by…

The purpose of this study was to examine the practices middle school principals employed during the supervisory process. The qualitative study focused on practices middle school principals followed during the pre-observation process, observation process, and post observation process. The study also detailed how the data collected from formal…

Throughout 2015, there have been 52 school shootings within the United States that have left 30 individuals dead and another 53 injured (Reuters-USA, 2015). Since Friday, December 14, 2012, the date of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, in which 26 people lost their lives, there has been on average one school shooting per week. It is…

Proponents of K-12 online learning claim that it can provide more equitable learning opportunities by offering access to courses that might not otherwise be available to students, and by providing personalized learning experiences. Despite the growth of online learning in K-12 public schools, very little is known about what constitutes good online…