Effective teacher professional development is defined as structured professional learning activities which result in changes in teacher practice and improvements in student learning outcomes. Superintendents face common challenges unique to the rural environment which hinder the delivery of effective teacher professional development in rural…

Madison Strategies Group (MSG), which operates Tulsa Community WorkAdvance (TCW) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, participated in MDRC's study of WorkAdvance, a sector-based training and career advancement program that prepares people for jobs in manufacturing and transportation. In 2015, TCW also began a health care training program in partnership with CAP…

To allow prospective teachers to see mathematics as a useful tool to make sense of the world we redesigned a university mathematics content course for prospective elementary school teachers in the context of exploring income distribution in the United States. This allowed the prospective teachers to learn mathematics in a meaningful context and…

Frontline staff are a valuable asset within an intellectual and developmental disability service. Their work dictates the overall standard of care delivered by the organization. However, there is evidence that the research relating to effective practice is having little impact on the competencies displayed by staff in the real-world setting.…

This three-paper dissertation explored possible success factors for Health Information Management certification exams. According to the American Health Information Management Association, (http://www.ahima.org) in 2019, only seventy percent of first-time test takers passed the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) exam and ten percent…

Since 1984, many animal science postsecondary institutions had incorporated experiential learning into courses and programs, including equine programs. Even with the incorporated experiential learning, equine experts were finding students postgraduation were substandard with equine technical skills experiences. Although many studies had addressed…

Nationally, the labor market is calling out for workers to fill the increasing number of job vacancies, but those qualified, skilled, and able to fill them are limited in supply or retiring in large numbers. As America's key industries offer high salaries in return for candidates with the necessary skills and credentials to fill their vacancies,…

The purpose of this basic narrative qualitative study was to explore the experiences of first- and second-year teachers and mentors regarding professional learning and new teacher mentoring programs from three highly effective schools in the state of Missouri through personal interviews and related documents. The three highly effective schools…

With the number of homeless unaccompanied youth continuing to rise in the United States, it is imperative that schools learn and understand federal guidelines and best practices to be able to best support these young people. Professional development can be a critical step in supporting these students. This study explored educators' understanding…

This is a dissertation that focuses on the lived experiences of culturally diverse female counselor education candidates on their dissertation experience. Chapter 1 addressed the background of the issue and the need for such a study. It also addresses the research questions that drove the study. Chapter 2 provides a comprehensive literature review…

Since their early days, community colleges have maintained a pivotal role as a provider of education to the diverse populations they serve. Over the years, these institutions of higher learning have been tasked with expanding access to education to those who had been denied even the possibility on the basis of race, economic stability, and a host…

Counselors and leaders use prosocial behaviors to motivate others to accomplish goals. Modern leadership theory, specifically transformational leadership, describes leader behaviors that elicit follower volunteerism and high productivity. Counseling literature refers to similar behaviors that counselors master to guide clients to achieve wellness…

Education litigation predominantly focuses on special education, thus educator special education legal literacy is a concern for teachers, administrators, and district office personnel. The dearth of knowledge assessments concerning special education led to the development of the Assessment of Special Education Legal Literacy instrument. The…

The purpose of this study was to explore how skills gained through study abroad at the Pennsylvania State University influence individuals' employability as they enter the workforce. Potential participants were invited to complete a qualification survey that gathered initial demographic and study abroad information. From the responses, eligible…

Although researchers have shown interest in videogaming since the early 2000s, the hyper-competitive world of "esports" has received less attention. However, multi-million dollar gaming tournaments--such as the 2019 "Fortnite" World Cup--now make headlines and spark national discussion. Similarly, colleges and universities have…