Effective collaboration and the development of collective efficacy are understood to have considerable influence on students' learning, with research showing that the presence of collective efficacy among educators is the strategy with the most potential to positively affect student achievement. Yet this strategy is rarely found implemented in…

Behavior-change theories reliably explain behavior, but they often lack messaging recommendations to modify behavior. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) could benefit from clear, replicable messaging strategies to target its constructs of attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) about a behavior (Ajzen, 1991). Habit Theory…

Teacher attrition is a major challenge for public school districts across the country, especially in poor, urban and/or high needs schools. Sixty-one percent of school district superintendents identified teacher retention as a top concern. The majority of the teachers who leave are the new, well-prepared, successful teachers and the mid-career…

Study abroad participation has become an increasingly important part of the college experience. UC International Programs, the study abroad office at the University of Cincinnati, has organized an experientially based, international professional development program for advising staff, with the goal of equipping them with the tools to encourage…

With the shifts and newly evolving complexities of the 21st century, the significance of what is needed from a successful school principal has reached a critical point. Today, one of the most vital roles of an effective principal is to, "Create a climate hospitable to education so that safety, a cooperative spirit, and other foundations of…

Multiply marginalized learners (MMLs), students with two or more marginalized identity factors (Annamma et al., 2013), are America's most vulnerable K-12 student population. MMLs face significant challenges, including increased opportunity- and academic achievement gaps (Hanushek et al., 2019; McClellan et al., 2018). They are disproportionately…

The disproportionate number of African Americans in special education has been an issue receiving a lot of attention throughout the years. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine influencing factors contributing to the disproportionate number of African Americans in special education being served. This qualitative research study…

Elementary teacher candidates (TCs) must learn to teach many subject areas. Although some mathematics education researchers have framed elementary teachers' knowledge as a deficit (i.e., lack of depth of mathematics knowledge), this dissertation considers elementary teachers' broad knowledge as a strength. Many elementary teachers and TCs feel…

This dissertation examines how first-generation high school Students of Color from California's San Joaquin Valley navigate digital marketing and advertising during their college search and application processes, offering a timely contribution to the study of college admissions in a post-affirmative action landscape. Higher education institutions…

Asking the question, "Am I racist?" is a hard thought to process, one that can even be offensive to some, unthinkable to others. However, considering recent events like the #SayHerName movement and other demonstrations that bring racial justice and implicit bias to center stage again, more than 150 years after the Emancipation…

The purpose of this case study was to understand the perspectives of school administrators in Ontario on policies and practices addressing disproportionality in student discipline and suspension rates for minority students. The problem is that minority students get school suspension at significantly higher rates than non-minority students. The…

This present study investigates the effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on teachers and school counselors during a disruptive situation. A four-week modified MBSR program was held with 36 school counselors and teachers across the nation during the global pandemic. A questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) were conducted…

With the changing faces of America's public school classrooms, colleges and universities that are responsible for the preparation of quality teachers will need to ensure that these future educators are equipped with the knowledge and ability to address the learning needs of students of color. This study was designed to examine how North Carolina…

Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has critical health implications for developing fetuses and subsequently for infants and young children. Research has suggested that this ambient air pollutant can be found indoors in quantities that may be hazardous to human health. In low-income neighborhoods in New York City such as northern…

National statistics indicate substantial mental health and academic challenges experienced by a sizable proportion of Hispanic children and adolescents in American school settings. School counselors can provide culturally responsive supports to this population and would benefit from contextually grounded, ecologically valid assessments that focus…