A Program Evaluation Of Positive Behavioral Interventions And Supports In A Rural Title I Elementary School, Thomasina L. Curenton

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study evaluated the implementation and effectiveness of a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in a rural Title I elementary school. PBIS, multi-tiered framework, uses proactive strategies to enhance academic and behavioral outcomes. While effective in fostering positive school climates and reducing exclusionary discipline, implementation fidelity remains challenging, particularly in resource-constrained school settings. Teachers often face barriers like insufficient training and resources. Using a mixed methods approach, this study analyzed PBIS’s impact on student behavior, teacher preparedness, and school climate. Quantitative data included office discipline referrals and teacher surveys, while qualitative data were gathered through interviews and focus groups. …

A Catalyst For Change: A Program Evaluation Of Professional Learning Communities At Title I Elementary Schools, Sheila R. Wright

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods program evaluation analyzed the implementation of professional learning communities (PLCs) in four Title I elementary schools within a North Carolina district. This study examined stakeholders' perceptions regarding the impact of the PLC framework on instructional practices, the significance of collective efficacy within the framework, and the characteristics that define an effective PLC, as defined by Hord's (1997) five dimensions. The North Carolina Educator Effectiveness System (NCEES) requires educators in North Carolina to implement PLCs to promote collaboration and improve student achievement (North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 2018). The study's results were utilized to assess stakeholders' perceptions …

An Analysis Of Elementary Teacher Working Conditions And Retention In North Carolina During The Initial Years Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Tieshia S. Pickett

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on elementary teachers' perceptions of their working conditions and immediate professional plans in North Carolina. It compared 2018, 2020, and 2024 data to identify differences in perceptions of the pandemic. Using a nonexperimental quantitative design, the study analyzed archived data from the North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey (NCTWCS) obtained from the North Carolina Education Research Data Center (NCERDC). The survey data covered pre-COVID-19 (2018), during COVID-19 (2020), and post-COVID-19 (2024) periods. The analysis focused on eight constructs: time, community support and involvement, facilities and resources, managing student conduct, …

Exploring Commonalities Of Effective Elementary Teachers, Doneen Johnson

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Low performing schools have consistently faced challenges in narrowing the achievement gap and meeting the needs of diverse learners, especially those living in high poverty situations. Effective teaching can significantly influence student outcomes and positively shape students’ academic trajectories through the use of high-impact strategies and relationship-centered instruction. This convergent mixed-methods study aimed to define and understand the characteristics of effective teachers, investigate the perceptions of effective teachers about the reasons for their success, and identify the strategies effective teachers use to support students in low performing elementary schools in a North Carolina school district. Quantitative data sources included a …

Through Their Own Eyes: A Mixed Methods Study On Perceptions And Reflections Of Culturally Responsive Teaching Self-Efficacy Of North Carolina Elementary School Teachers, Bria C. Wright

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Historical inequities disproportionately impacting historically marginalized communities continue to persist in classrooms today. Culturally responsive teaching plays an important role in addressing these inequities by recognizing and affirming diverse cultural identities. The purpose of this study was to explore elementary school teachers’ culturally responsive teaching self-efficacy (CRTSE) perceptions. This mixed methods convergent parallel study examined CRTSE across five domains: culturally congruent instruction, cross-cultural communication, culturally relevant curricula, cultural diversity knowledge, and cultural caring learning communities. Quantitative data were collected from 147 North Carolina elementary teachers using the CRTSE Scale, and qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 16 participants. …

Examining The Influence Of Teacher Perceptions On Implementing Behavior Interventions And Their Impact On Student Achievement, Teresa J. Edwards

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods sequential explanatory study examined how elementary teachers’ perceptions influenced the fidelity and effectiveness of behavioral interventions in K–5 public schools. Grounded in Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory and Fixsen et al.’s (2019) Implementation Science Framework, the study explored the relationship between teacher confidence, professional development, and outcomes related to student achievement. Quantitative data showed reductions in behavior incidents, in-school suspensions (ISS), and out-of-school suspensions (OSS) from fall to spring, while qualitative data from surveys and interviews emphasized the need for sustained support, differentiated intervention plans, and a strong school-wide culture. Teachers noted that one-time trainings were insufficient …

Teacher Perceptions Of Social-Emotional Learning In A Covid-Impacted Environment, Gina Gold

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Social-emotional learning (SEL) builds students’ resilience skills, which impact the biology of the brain connected to emotional regulation, safe behaviors, and positive learning outcomes. Diminished resilience is typically the result of childhood trauma, which affects physical and emotional health into adulthood. Teachers’ capacity, implementation, and data analysis practices for SEL are important to support building resilience skills in our students to help them grow to be emotionally and physically healthy citizens. The purpose of this research study was to investigate the perspectives of elementary school teachers from four elementary schools in the same school district in rural, southwestern North Carolina …

The Impact Of High-Stakes Summative Reading Outcome Measures On Student Self-Efficacy, Hayley M. Johnson

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore the influence of high-stakes reading tests on student self-efficacy, or confidence, as readers. The study focused on sixth-grade students who had taken the reading end-of-grade (EOG) test in Grades 3, 4, and 5. I analyzed their third-grade reading EOG scores to determine if that score was predictive of the fourth-grade reading EOG score and repeated the same analysis to see if fourth-grade reading EOG scores were predictive of fifth-grade scores. Then, those sixth-grade students' reading self-efficacies, as measured by the Butz and Usher (2015) Self-Efficacy Survey, were compared to their …

Stakeholder Perspectives On A Strand Within A Traditional School Chinese Immersion Program: A Case Study, Erica M. Caine

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Dual language immersion programs have continued to grow in North Carolina, providing students with learning opportunities focused on bilingualism, biliteracy, and sociocultural competency. This qualitative case study explored the influence of ecological systems on internal stakeholders (teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators) within one dual language strand within a school’s Chinese immersion program in North Carolina. Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) Ecological Systems Theory was utilized as the framework for this study. Data were collected through focus groups, interviews, and document analysis to examine the perceptions and experiences of key stakeholders pertaining to the program’s integration into the larger school setting. The analyzed data …

A Review Of Research On Engineering In K-12 Science Education, Allison Antink-Meyer, Ryan A. Brown, Margaret E. Parker, Jennifer Smith

Faculty Publications - College of Education

The purpose of this study is to explore trends in interrelated engineering education and science education research within six science education research journals across the first decade since the release of the Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards. Journals were selected using a combination of impact factors and random sampling. The resulting qualitative systematic review exposes trends that arose and fell among science education journals and scholars as reflected in 141 articles published between 2011 and 2024 in the Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Science Education, the International Journal of Science Education, School Science …

Lend Me Your Hands: Engaging Waldorf Teachers In Pedagogical Puppetry For Student Growth, Corinna Rezzelle-Pennypacker

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Although puppetry has a long history as a holistic teaching tool, it remains an underutilized arts integration technique in elementary and secondary schools. To better understand Waldorf teachers’ perspectives on pedagogical puppetry and the necessary training to effectively implement the work, this explanatory mixed-methods dissertation sought to fill the gap in research on teachers’ views of puppetry and what training they believe is important to feel comfortable doing the work. Committed to using an action research approach, a professional development workshop and lesson plans were created for 1st-8th grade Waldorf teachers based on the feedback from this dissertation’s explanatory interviews …

Teaching Towards Connection And Love For Place Through A Kinship/Indigenous Worldview: A Critical Pedagogy Of Place, Rita Monique Bouchard

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to observe the lived experiences of children while learning about place through a Kinship/Indigenous worldview and the impact of the experience on their love and care for place. The study unfolds from a theoretical framework at the nexus of critical theory, place-based education, and a Kinship/Indigenous worldview. The overarching question is, “Can teaching through an Original Kinship/Indigenous Worldview grow children towards connection and love for place?” Elementary students and their teacher explored one square block of the school community, illuminating a different aspect of our place daily through Kinship/Indigenous worldview Precepts (Wahinkpe …

Developing Waldorf Teachers: An Analysis Of The Practical Effects Of Teacher Training And Professional Development On Teachers' Sense Of Self-Efficacy And Personal Transformation, Emily Macdonald Merchant

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This mixed-methods study explores the concept of Pedagogical Instinct (PI) in Waldorf education by examining its relationship to the teacher’s sense of self-efficacy and professional development. Connected to Rudolf Steiner’s educational philosophy, PI refers to the intuitive and adaptive capacity of teachers to respond to students’ individual needs, integrating technical skills, relational awareness, and ego development. Quantitative data from 168 survey respondents were analyzed to assess relationships between self-efficacy, PI, teacher training, and demographic variables. Qualitative data from 65 respondents to 9 open-ended questions provided insights into the lived experiences of Waldorf teachers in relation to PI. Findings revealed a …

The Teaching Principles Influenced By Taoist Thought, Cerina Wang

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation explores the integration of Taoist thought into teaching principles to enhance student well-being in the classroom. The study is driven by two primary research questions: What are my teaching principles? and How have Taoist thoughts influenced these principles? Grounded in the Tao Te Ching, this research examines how Taoist philosophy can inform and shape effective educational practices that prioritize emotional balance, self-awareness, and natural growth. The literature review connects Taoist thought with modern educational theories, highlighting its relevance to fostering resilience, intrinsic motivation, and holistic development in students. Using an autoethnographic research methodology, this study draws upon personal …

Pick Up A Frog, Or Pet A Dog; Animals Are Our First Teachers, Allison Ratner

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation’s goal was an attempt to answer the question: What are the emotional, cognitive, and/or spiritual effects of children’s relationships/interactions with animals that potentially impact their development? By utilizing autoethnography, I analyzed instances from my own life where interacting with animals changed me permanently; my thinking, my knowing, my feeling, my judgement, my empathy, my attitude, and my ethics. With a standpoint rooted in the research of experts from the fields of psychology and education, I combined my personal knowledge gained over a lifetime, to grant merit to the profundity of children’s relationships with animals. With the analyzed data, …

Cultivating Empathy: A Content Analysis Of Empathic Themes In Best-Selling Children's Books, Elnaz J. Afousi

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study examines the presence and nature of empathic content in best-selling children’s picture books, with a focus on developmental relevance for preschool-aged readers. Using a modified version of the iEPIC empathy coding system, 10 titles from the New York Times best-seller list were analyzed to assess the frequency and complexity of three empathy-related constructs: Emotion or State Description (ESD), Exploring Emotion or State (EES), and Empathic Understanding or Concern (EUC). Results indicate that while all books contained some empathy-related content, ESD3 (self-reflective emotional descriptions) and EUC2/EUC4 (understanding and helping others) were most prevalent, suggesting an emphasis on both intrapersonal …

Waldorf Wonder: An Exploration Of Waldorf Teaching Strategies, Laura A. Keys Moreno

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation explores Waldorf teacher praxis as related to cultivating wonder. In this exploration, a variety of wonder researchers will form a picture of what is needed in public schools of today. This will be considered a mainstream perspective. This dissertation hopes to build a bridge to those mainstream researchers such as Egan, Schinkel, and Wolbert with the indications of Steiner and Waldorf education practices. Emotions researcher Keltner provides a framework of wonder experiences from his research on the emotion called awe. An overall framework grounded in Steiner’s work is utilized to form interview questions. In this mixed methods exploration, …

Elementary School Mathematics Teacher Perspectives Of Blended Learning, Elizabeth H. Forrester

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the experiences and perceptions of teachers who utilize technology for instructional purposes, blended learning in elementary school instruction, and the impact of professional development (PD) on blended learning instruction. Guided by the Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge theory (TPACK), research aims to understand teachers' motivation and use of blended learning during instruction and the impact PD has had on teachers’ implementation of blended learning. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews of seven elementary school teachers in grades two through five in the state of Kentucky. Findings revealed that teachers experienced technology integration instruction during their …

Becoming, Being, And Belonging: Exploring The Intersections Of Black Manhood, Sexuality, And Rural Education Through Self-Study Using Ethno-Dramatic Renderings, Javious Canty

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Studies that center Black male teachers often lack nuance and tend to look at them as a monolithic group. This dissertation uses Quare theory (Johnson, 2001), African American Male Theory (AAMT) (Bush & Bush, 2013), along with self-study methodology represented through fictionalized ethno-dramatic scenes to examine the teaching practices of a queer Black male teacher in a rural context and the impact he has on the achievement of his rural Black students. One finding from this study is that breaking through Quare barriers using community, resilience, and cultural awareness leads to success. Another finding is that rural spaces carry educational …

Teacher Views Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication With Nonverbal Students With Severe Intellectual Disabilities: A Generic Qualitative Study, Lelita K. Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

Students with significant intellectual disabilities who are nonverbal often depend on augmentative and alternative communication devices to engage with lessons and participate in secondary educational environments. Despite advancements in this technology, issues pertaining to training, consistency, and institutional support persist, hindering effective application in urban schools. The objective of this generic qualitative study was to investigate the perspectives of teachers and related service providers regarding the utilization of these devices for nonverbal students with severe intellectual disabilities in urban secondary schools.

Data were gathered via semi-structured interviews with 11 participants, comprising special education instructors, related service providers, and special education …