Education Commons^™

A Qualitative Examination Of Tennessee Secondary Stem Teachers’ Perceptions On Professional Development Needs, Amber W. Ogle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to research secondary STEM educators’ perceptions of PD needs. This study focused on the lived experiences of educators actively teaching in STEM subject disciplines in grades nine through 12. The essential question for this research study was: How do Tennessee secondary STEM teachers perceive the relevance, applicability, and impact of PD opportunities? The research was rooted in Knowles’ (1984) theory of adult learning, Andragogy, and Learning Forward’s (2022) Standards for Professional Learning.

Data were collected through 15 semi-structured, one-on-one online interviews. The transcripts of these interviews were analyzed, and frequently used language …

2026 June 18 - From My Notepads Newsletter, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University, Brian Noland

From My Notepads: A Newsletter from President Brian Noland

No abstract provided.

2026 May 14 - From My Notepads Newsletter, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University, Brian Noland

From My Notepads: A Newsletter from President Brian Noland

No abstract provided.

2026 Spring - Commencement Program, Office Of The Registar, East Tennessee State University

ETSU Commencement Ceremonies and Programs

No abstract provided.

2025-2026 Annual Report - Undergraduate Curriculum Council, Undergraduate Curriculum Council, East Tennessee State University

Undergraduate Curriculum Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Empowering Futures: An Examination Of Educator Perceptions In Supporting Students With Disabilities In Post-Secondary Transition, Carlinda J. Spehar-Shaw

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to examine educators' perceptions of their roles in students' post-secondary transition. Federal mandates require special education teachers to be key components in supporting students during this process. The literature examines the multifaceted components of the transition process, including Kohler’s Taxonomy 2.0 and Schlossberg’s Transition Framework.

Data were collected using a one-on-one, semi-structured interview protocol to examine educators' perceptions of their roles in students' post-secondary transition. This strategy allowed the researcher to understand the participants' backgrounds and experiences while analyzing perceptions of their role in the post-secondary transition. A pre-designed set of interview …

Adsorption Of Pfas On Bridged Functionalized Organosilica Materials, Elisha Lawerh Kabutey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

PFAS are hazardous contaminants that have a devastating impact on human health and the environment. Their hazardous nature has led to the development of various adsorption methods for removing these contaminants from water sources. In this study, functionalized organosilica materials were synthesized from bis[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl] amine using the sol-gel method. The surface amino groups of the organosilica were converted into amine hydrochloride groups. Their adsorption properties were evaluated using salts of perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid. Results showed excellent adsorption capacity of the materials. Adsorption of PFAS leads to particle agglomeration and flotation of the spent material. A column …

2026 May - Mary V. Jordan Center Newsletter, Mary V. Jordan Center, East Tennessee State University

Mary V. Jordan Center Newsletters

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Pre-K Teachers In Fostering Academic Resilience In Their Students In Preparation For Elementary School, Safa Alkaabi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated Pre-K teachers’ perceptions and pedagogical practices in fostering academic resilience, defined as the ability to persevere through challenges in early learning. Eight Pre-K teachers in Tennessee participated through interviews, focus groups, and analysis of lesson plans aligned with the Tennessee Early Learning Developmental Standards (TNELDS) and the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework. The study aimed to address three research questions related to teachers’ conceptualization of resilience, instructional strategies, and documentation practices.

Findings revealed that teachers conceptualized academic resilience as a developable capacity rather than an innate trait, encompassing perseverance through challenges, emotional regulation, and the …

Perceptions Of Educators To Recognize And Respond To Suicidal Ideation Of Secondary Students, Clary Aaron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how secondary teachers in East Tennessee perceive district-provided suicide prevention training and its role in supporting students experiencing suicidal ideation. Eleven middle and high school teachers who had previously made a crisis referral participated in semi-structured interviews. The study examined teachers’ experiences, perceived strengths and limitations of training, and needed resources. Findings revealed that teachers felt confident recognizing warning signs, especially behavioral changes, when strong student relationships existed. However, training was often described as repetitive, generic, and minimally engaging. Social media and limited support systems were seen as major stressors for students. Teachers emphasized relationship-centered …

“The Distance And Time Difference Aren’T Helping”: Family Communication Practices Of African Graduate Students Adapting To A New Country, Hummuh Abubakar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how international graduate students maintained long-distance communication with family members while adapting to life in the United States. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with seven international students, the research explored how participants sustained emotional closeness, manage disclosure, and select communication media across geographic distance. Guided by Communication Privacy Management Theory and Media Richness Theory, the study analyzed how students regulated private information and strategically used video calls, voice calls, and messaging platforms to meet relational and emotional needs. Findings revealed four primary themes: reliance on digital communication technologies; the emotional and psychological functions of family communication; structural …

Academic Self-Efficacy Of Black, White, And Hispanic Students Pursuing Professional Education Degrees And Licensure At An Hbcu In Midwest Ohio, Nathan Boles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this comparative quantitative study was to determine, using three self-efficacy scales, General Self-Efficacy (GSE), Academic Self-Efficacy (ASE), and Educational Self-Efficacy (ESE), the differences in academic and educational self-efficacy among Black, White, and Hispanic students seeking a Professional Education degree and licensure at a Historically Black College and University in Midwest Ohio. Pre-service students’ self-efficacy and goal commitment can affect their likelihood of graduating with a license and may directly affect the number of novice teachers of color in the classroom. The literature examines factors that disrupt students’ self-efficacy, academic confidence, and persistence through the theoretical frameworks of …

Leaving College In Rural Central Appalachia: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of Lived Experience And Meaning-Making, Amanda Sawyers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This hermeneutic phenomenological study explored how individuals raised primarily in rural Central Appalachian communities interpret and make meaning of their decision to engage in college departure prior to degree completion. The study examined college departure as a lived experience shaped by family obligations, cultural identity, and rural structural conditions. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee, and Western North Carolina who had enrolled in higher education but did not complete a degree. The main research question was: How do rural Central Appalachian residents interpret their college departure? Hermeneutic phenomenological thematic analysis …

The Influence Of Intervention Strategies On Students With Disabilities Who Exhibit Challenging Behaviors In Rural Public Schools: Teacher Perceptions, Ben B. Robertson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological qualitative study addressed rural teachers' perceptions of the influence of intervention strategies on students with disabilities who exhibit challenging behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ perceptions of the effect of intervention strategies on academic achievement, student behavior outcomes, and teacher self-efficacy through the lens of Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory. This theory is a complex, dynamic interaction among people, their behaviors, and their environments. Data collection included 14 individual interviews, conducted on Zoom with educators from one school district in Southern Virginia, including seven general education teachers and seven special education teachers. Data analysis strategies …

Perceptions Of Rural School Resource Officers On Training, Roles, And Interactions With Students In Special Populations, Mary Jane M. Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative inductive study was conducted with rural school districts located in the Middle Grand Division of Tennessee. School Resource Officers' (SROs) and K–12 school administrators’ perceptions of their roles were assessed. Perceptions of school policing from both samples were assessed regarding SRO training, roles, and expectations for working with school law enforcement officials. This also included respondents' views on how students with disabilities are treated. The research conducted in rural Middle Tennessee counties examined SROs’ and K–12 administrators’ perceptions through data collected from in-depth open-ended interviews and a pre-written analysis. The proliferation of police officers assigned to schools beginning …

Academic And Demographic Predictors Of Retention And Persistence In Business Programs: Post-Covid Cohorts Of Traditional And Ncccs Transfer Students, Matthew K. Crump

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined academic and demographic predictors of first-year retention and major persistence among traditional first-year and North Carolina community college transfer students enrolled in undergraduate business programs. Guided by Tinto’s 1993 Model of Student Retention and Astin’s 1984 Theory of Student Involvement, the research focused on students who entered two AACSB-accredited institutions within the UNC System during Fall 2021, Fall 2022, and Fall 2023 as traditional first-year students or as transfer students from North Carolina community colleges.

Institutional data from the Banner Student Information System provided the basis for logistic regression analyses that examined predictors including high school …

Artificial Intelligence Adoption Among Community College Faculty: A Comparative Analysis Of Rural And Urban Institutions, Morgan A. Saunders

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has created new opportunities and challenges for higher education institutions. Community colleges, which serve diverse student populations and play a significant role in workforce development, must determine. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate differences in artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, usage patterns, and perceptions of importance among faculty at two rural community colleges and two urban community colleges in the United States. Specifically, the study investigated whether statistically significant differences existed in the perceived importance of AI and in the number of AI tools used by faculty across institutional contexts. In …

Perceptions Of Effective Co-Teaching Partnerships In High School Inclusive Classrooms, Korri-Lee S. Wood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the characteristics and contextual factors that general education and special education teachers perceive as essential for effective co-teaching partnerships in high school inclusive classrooms. The study, which involved in-depth interviews with general and special education teachers in co-teaching partnerships, was conducted within a constructivist paradigm to shed light on interpersonal, communicative, and systemic variables that contribute to a positive, productive co-teaching experience. Purposeful sampling was employed to select general and special education teachers who were part of co-teaching partnerships. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data from semi-structured interviews, and an …

Attendance Matters: Incentive Programs And Chronic Absenteeism In Elementary Schools, Aubryn Street

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chronic absenteeism is a common challenge in elementary education. Schools often use attendance incentive programs, such as rewards or recognition, to encourage students to attend regularly. However, it is not always clear whether these programs actually improve attendance. This study examined whether attendance incentive programs are effective and how school staff view and use these programs.

This mixed-methods study used both school attendance data and interviews with school personnel. Attendance data from two school years showed that schools with incentive programs did not have lower absenteeism rates than schools without them. However, attendance improved overall from one year to the …

Parent Engagement And Advocacy In Individualized Education Programs In Rural Appalachian School Districts, Mollie Rutledge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore parent engagement and parent advocacy in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and implementation in rural Appalachian school districts. Parent engagement and parent advocacy in Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and implementation are persistent challenges in special education. By intentionally grounding this research in rural Appalachia, the researcher responded to calls for education research that is attentive to the complexity and diversity of rural communities. Parents in rural areas face unique challenges related to poverty, isolation, and limited resources that can influence their engagement and advocacy in the IEP process. The …

2026 April 30 - From My Notepads Newsletter, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University, Brian Noland

From My Notepads: A Newsletter from President Brian Noland

No abstract provided.

2026 April 22 - Undergraduate Curriculum Council Minutes, Undergraduate Curriculum Council, East Tennessee State University

Undergraduate Curriculum Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

2026 April 17 - From My Notepads Newsletter, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University, Brian Noland

From My Notepads: A Newsletter from President Brian Noland

No abstract provided.

2026 April 13 - Staff Senate Agenda And Minutes, Staff Senate, East Tennessee State University

Staff Senate Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

2026 April 6 - Faculty Senate Agenda And Minutes, Faculty Senate, East Tennessee State University

Faculty Senate Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

2026 Election Results - Student Government Association, Student Government Association, East Tennessee State University

Student Government Association Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

2026 April 2 - From My Notepads Newsletter, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University, Brian Noland

From My Notepads: A Newsletter from President Brian Noland

No abstract provided.

Etsu Today - Spring 2026, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU Today [magazine]

Bucs Go Beyond

Celebrating ETSU's Impact

At East Tennessee State University, our pursuit of knowledge is inseparable from our commitment to service. That commitment is evident not only in our classrooms and laboratories but also throughout the region we serve. Through hands-on learning, cross-sector partnerships, and a deep sense of purpose, our students, faculty, and staff extend ETSU’s reach far beyond our formal campus borders.

This year, ETSU was honored with the Carnegie Foundation’s Elective Classification for Community Engagement, a distinction awarded to just a fraction of institutions nationwide. This recognition affirms the ongoing and intentional work taking place across …

2026 April - Mary V. Jordan Center Newsletter, Mary V. Jordan Center, East Tennessee State University

Mary V. Jordan Center Newsletters

No abstract provided.

2026 Spring - Veterans Upward Bound Newsletter, Veterans Upward Bound, East Tennessee State University

Veterans Upward Bound Newsletters

No abstract provided.