Other Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Science Of Reading Professional Development: The Perceptions Of Secondary Teachers In Arkansas, Teresa R. Moka

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

ABSTRACT SCIENCE OF READING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: THE PERCEPTIONS OF SECONDARY TEACHERS IN ARKANSAS

Teresa R. Moka

The study addresses the critical issue of low literacy proficiency among secondary students in Arkansas, where National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data reveals declining reading scores. Despite scientific consensus on reading instruction, many teachers lack professional development in evidence-based reading strategies, particularly at the secondary level. Although Arkansas secondary teachers have received initial Science of Reading (SoR) professional development from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the perceptions of secondary teachers regarding SoR professional development is not well documented. The purpose …

The Future Of Coaching: Empowering Prospective Educators In Speech And Debate, Willow Keller

Honors Projects

This project addresses a clear and pressing gap in the Ohio Speech and Debate Association’s current strategic plan: the need for formal coach preparation and recruitment. This project combines academic research with actionable, real-world solutions, ensuring that the proposal is both credible and feasible. It is grounded in data and educational best practices, making it highly relevant to the immediate challenges facing Ohio’s forensics community. This project advocates for the creation of a state-approved coaching curriculum, which will be offered to education majors and certify that they are qualified to coach high school and middle school Speech and Debate.

Call For Manuscripts, Michele J. Koomen, Thomastine Sarchet-Maher, Jessica Williams

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

No abstract provided.

Call For Manuscripts, Michele J. Koomen, Thomastine Sarchet-Maher, Jessica Williams

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

No abstract provided.

Effectively Preparing Preservice Mainstream Teachers For Teaching Multilingual Learners, Gail R. Olson

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper investigated research-based curricular components for increasing the preparedness of preservice mainstream teachers (PSMTs) to teach multilingual learners (MLs). An increase in MLs in classrooms across the United States and changes in models for delivering English language development services have resulted in the growing need for general education teachers to be proficient in meeting the unique language needs of MLs while also delivering content-area instruction. PSMTs have been historically unprepared to adequately teach MLs within general education or content-area classes (Christison, 2023; Deng & Hayden, 2021; Lavery et al., 2019; Mahalingappa et al., 2018; Prasad & Heidt, 2023). To …

From The Editors, Michele J. Koomen, Thomastine Sarchet-Maher, Jessica Williams

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

JSESD remains a venue for the dissemination of research and practice related to the education of students with disabilities in the science classroom and laboratory since 1998. Volumes #1 through 11 were published in a print format. Starting with Volume #12, the journal has been published online and Open Access. Having JSESD in the Open Access format maximizes access for readers and authors and allows the journal to remain economically sustainable.

Copyright, Michele J. Koomen, Thomastine Sarchet-Maher, Jessica Williams

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

No abstract provided.

Leading Through Change: Building Resilient And Adaptive School Teams, Ashlee Boothe

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

This reflective essay examines the vital role of resilience, adaptability, and vision for school leaders experiencing change during unstable times. By fostering these qualities during stable periods, school leaders can effectively prepare for upcoming challenges, such as budget constraints, irate parents, and unexpected crises. Using the example of school closures during COVID-19, the reflection highlights how resilient leadership and a clear vision enable school leaders to make informed, strategic decisions. Fostering resilience, providing staff autonomy, and articulating a shared vision are key to ensuring schools can handle challenges and achieve meaningful change. This paper argues that now is the time …

Credit Where Credit Is Due: An Examination Of Credit Hour Outcomes Of Teacher Education Vertical Transfer Students, Lori B. Riley

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines credit hour accumulation among teacher education transfer students at three of the six institutions within the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO). Oklahoma, like many states, is facing a critical teacher shortage. With half of undergraduate students beginning their postsecondary education at two-year colleges, the community college is an important piece of the teacher education pipeline and can assist with increasing the number of diverse PK–12 educators. Using a comparative quantitative research design, the study explores differences in credit hours accumulated at baccalaureate completion across transfer types (education and non-education), associate degree attainment, declared content areas (4x12 …

Exploring Secondary Teachers’ Mental Health Self-Efficacy, Perceptions Of Supporting Student Mental Health And Well-Being, Sherilyn A. Kile

Education (PhD) Dissertations

Research has indicated that over half of all lifetime cases of mental health conditions begin before the age of 14 years (NAMI, 2024a), making the adolescent period a critical and formative time. The unprecedented effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to more mental health problems in children and adolescent youth (Sayed et al., 2024), particularly affecting southern California school districts that implemented distance or hybrid learning models (K. Brann et al., 2022). Secondary teachers are essential referral sources and gatekeepers for linking adolescent children to mental health support (Owens et al., 2014). Given the essential role teachers play …

Increasing The Use Of Data-Based Individualization And Data-Based Decision-Making In Secondary Resource Settings, Melissa D. Garside

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Data-based decision-making (DBDM) and data-based individualization (DBI) are two evidenced-based and high-leverage practices that improve student outcomes when implemented with fidelity. Unfortunately, these practices face various implementation obstacles, particularly when applied to students with intensive academic, functional, and behavioral needs in a secondary school setting. With this project, I aimed to improve my personal practice to provide secondary special education teachers in my district with professional development and support to understand, implement, and sustain the implementation of DBDM and DBI. Report 1 describes a day-long professional development session about DBI as applied to intensive reading interventions provided by middle school …

Building A Future Of "Vision, Passion, And Possibilities" In Eastern Kentucky: How Veteran Educators Understand And Suggest Improving Teacher Retention., Robert Brian Collins Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigates the root causes of teacher attrition, retention, and turnover in Eastern Kentucky through the perceptions and lived experiences of highquality veteran educators—those who have persisted in the profession for five or more years. Grounded in participatory action research, asset-based community development, and future-creating methodologies, the study centers the voices of experienced teachers not only as subjects of inquiry but as co-constructors of knowledge and potential solutions. Drawing on empathy interviews with educators across Eastern Kentucky districts, the research identifies core tensions contributing to attrition, including policy misalignment, lack of autonomy, and emotional exhaustion. Simultaneously, it illuminates …

An Examination Of The Lived Experiences Of Black Women Instructional Coaches (K-12), Courtney Tate

All Dissertations

The underrepresentation of Black women notably impacts the landscape of educational leadership as a result of a predominantly White workforce within the teaching profession (N. N. Johnson & Fournillier, 2021). This inequity not only highlights systemic inefficiencies as evidenced by worsening educational experiences for African American students following Brown v. BOE but also underscores the silence within studies exploring the experiences of Black women faculty in instructional leadership roles (Brown, 2005; Foster, 2005; N. N. Johnson, 2024; N. N. Johnson & Fournillier, 2021). The role of instructional coaches in shaping teacher practice positions them as integral to instructional leadership; it …

Shattered Campuses: School Shootings And Identity Formation, Daniel Alarcon

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

School shootings have become a pervasive issue in the U.S., impacting both students and educators. Since the Columbine tragedy, an estimated 187,000 students have experienced campus shootings, reflecting the tragic and often overwhelming nature of this phenomenon (Cox & Rich, 2018). Educators are tasked with devising structured responses to these incidents, facing the challenge of balancing safety with educational goals. While quantitative research on school safety is abundant, limited qualitative insight exists into how school leaders interpret data to design effective safety protocols tailored to their unique environments. This study aims to explore how individual schools perceive their vulnerability, prepare …

Legacy Of Learning: The Journey Of Males Of Color And The Sustaining Power Of Community Cultural Wealth, Marvin Espinoza

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This phenomenological study explores how males of color in South Los Angeles utilize Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) to navigate educational pathways from high school through community college and university. Grounded in Yosso’s (2005) CCW framework—which includes aspirational, linguistic, familial, social, navigational, and resistance capital—this study centers the voices of ten first-generation African American and Latino/Latinx males from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Using a mixed methods design, the research combined participant intake surveys, structured questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews to capture how these students persist in the face of systemic barriers. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis, while survey responses …

Drinking Out Of The Fire Hydrant: Educators’ Perceptions Of Well-Being In A Teacher Preparation Program, Corey P. Wolfe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The process of becoming a teacher is complex, multi-layered, and often high-stakes. Teacher preparation programs are designed to equip prospective teachers with the foundational skills and knowledge needed for a successful teaching career. In addition to pursuing the academic degree in education, future teachers must meet credentialing and licensure expectations. Because of these expectations, novice teachers are often met with profound feelings of stress and anxiety. The purpose of this research exploration was designed to investigate elementary educators’ perceptions of well-being during their senior year in a pre-service teacher preparation program. Using a qualitative research design, six educators were interviewed …

The New Road Chosen: An Examination Of Why Black Educators Are Choosing Alternative Certification Pathways, Devin Aucoin

All Dissertations

This narrative study explores the experiences of eight Black educators who entered the teaching profession through alternative certification programs. Alternative certification programs were originally designed to address teacher shortages by providing individuals with a college degree a fast-track route to teacher licensure; however, research reveals an extreme shortage of Black educators and a growing number of Black educators completing alternative certification pathways. Grounded in Black Critical Theory (BlackCrit) and Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), this study examines how anti-Blackness impacts the Black educator pipeline and how self-efficacy beliefs, perceived outcomes, personal goals, and contextual variables influence career decisions. Findings reveal …

Double, Double, Toils And Troubles: Analyzing The “Magical” Relationships Between University Leaders’ Personality Traits And Their Self-Efficacy In Leadership Situations, Fay Ludvine Boudreaux

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This present study investigated the relationship between higher education leaders’ personality traits and their self-efficacy in leadership situations. A total of 151 leaders employed across the nine institutions within the University of Louisiana System completed a survey that prompted them to identify their personal values, traits, and skill sets, as derived from the online Pottermore quiz, the official Harry Potter Hogwarts House sorting instrument. This niche personality metric was chosen to cater to higher education’s evolving landscape, as it welcomes an influx of Millennials into leadership positions. Participants’ responses were eventually recoded to “sort” them into their respective Houses: Gryffindor, …

A Pipeline To Prison Or A Pathway To Promise? The Inequities Fueling The School To Prison Pipeline, Ranishia Lachelle Bailey

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This systematic review proposal would investigate the school-to-prison pipeline and examine the role of pedagogical interventions in mitigating youth involvement in the justice system. By analyzing existing literature, this proposal would study and explore how school system biases, educational frameworks, and systemic factors contribute to the perpetuation of this pipeline, with a specific focus on how educational policies and disciplinary practices impact at-risk youth. The review aims to identify effective interventions that can disrupt this cycle, including restorative justice practices, trauma-informed education, positive behavioral interventions, and culturally responsive teaching. A comprehensive search strategy should be employed across various academic databases, …

Engaging Scientific Sense-Making: An Analysis Of Participation Within Informal Science Interaction, Spencer Barbier

Honors Theses

While science learning in formal educational settings has been extensively examined using frameworks such as Bloom’s Taxonomy, its application to informal science educational environments remains underexplored. Informal science education—occurring outside traditional classrooms—presents unique challenges for evaluation due to its unstructured nature and diverse audiences. This action research study aimed to address this gap by developing and testing a framework that categorizes learner responses into high-order and low-order answers, based on Bloom’s six cognitive domains. The study was conducted at the Hattiesburg Zoo, where a docent volunteer presented two separate docent boxes, or mini science lessons, to members of the public. …