Education Commons^™

Every Day Counts – A Critical Qualitative Case Study Examining Black Parents’ Perceptions Of Their Preschool Sons’ Chronic Absenteeism, Marilyn I. Dunham

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Marilyn I. Dunham EVERY DAY COUNTS – A CRITICAL QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY EXAMINING BLACK PARENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR PRESCHOOL SONS’ CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM 2025 - 2026 Jo Ann B. Manning, Ed.D. Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership The purpose of this critical qualitative case study was to examine the perceptions of Black parents regarding chronic absenteeism among Black male preschoolers. Grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT; Ladson-Billings, 1998; Solórzano & Yosso, 2002), the study sought to amplify parental voices and explore how systemic policies, school practices, home factors, and parental advocacy influence early attendance. Eight Black parents from an urban …

To What Extent Do Arkansas K-3 Elementary Classroom Teachers Understand The International Dyslexia Association's Definition Of Dyslexia?, Anetha Jane Hill

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative interview study explored the understanding of dyslexia among K–3 elementary classroom teachers in Arkansas, using the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) definition as adopted by the Arkansas Department of Education, specifically the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. An interview protocol was used to gather information about teachers’ understanding of the full IDA definition of dyslexia. Since this definition has been formally adopted by the state of Arkansas, it has significantly influenced district policies, classroom instruction, and support services. It is essential that educators have a working knowledge of this definition to adequately support students’ reading success and provide …

Memories, Realities, And Manifestations: A Fifth Grade Collage Inquiry Of Experiences And Hopes, Idalis Jole' Williams

Theses and Dissertations

In this qualitative study, I used collage inquiry to explore fifth-grade students' educational, social, and emotional experiences in an elementary school. The participating students began kindergarten in 2020, a year marked by the sudden disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic shaped the foundation of their schooling in many ways. This study helped us understand the student experience using the arts-based research method of collage inquiry. As the principal and researcher, I invited fifth-grade students to participate in a Collage Club that meets twice weekly across five weeks. The students reflected on their experiences and expressed their hopes for the …

Task Prioritization In Concurrent Speaking And Visuomotor Tasks In Younger And Older Adults, Naomi Wynn

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the ability of younger and older adults to prioritize one task over another under divided attention conditions. The speech task involved the repetition of sentences that included specific vowel targets, and the non-speech task was a visuomotor pursuit rotor task which required tracking a moving target on a computer. The participants were twenty young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 and twenty older adults above the age of 60. They performed each task on its own and both tasks concurrently, prioritizing one or the other task. Audio recordings were analyzed with software to extract …

Speech Motor Learning In Divided And Undivided Attention Conditions, Garrett Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effect of dual tasking on speech motor learning. Forty young adult participants (20 male, 20 female) practiced speaking nonsense words containing non-English consonant clusters. Half of the participants practiced the words while also completing a shape identification task. After practice, the two groups produced the words in a retention task both with and without the shape identification task. They returned the next day to produce the words again with and without the shape identification task. Acoustic analysis of the consonant cluster and word duration was used as an index of motor learning. Statistical analysis revealed that …

Decidiendo Lo Mejor Para Su Educación: Immigrant Latine Madres At The Intersection Of Confianza, Ideology, And The Illusion Of Choice, Emmeline Ortiz

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative multiple case study examined the decision-making processes of immigrant Latine caregivers selecting schools and language programs for their children classified as Multilingual Learners (MLLs) in New York City. Although policy frameworks position caregivers as central decision-makers, bilingual program access remains limited, especially in charter schools, and families must navigate language ideologies that privilege English as the safest educational pathway. Ten immigrant Latine participants, nine mothers and one grandmother, whose children attended traditional or charter elementary schools in one NYC district, shared their experiences through semi-structured interviews conducted in Spanish. Data were analyzed through iterative coding and thematic analysis …

Writers Helping Writers: The Power Of Peer Feedback In Student Writing, Heather Palmer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research study was to improve students’ engagement with the writing process by focusing more intently on peer feedback. The study occurred in my sixth-grade classroom in an affluent suburb of a large U.S. city. As an insider to the setting, I used mixed methods to address a problem of practice, having noticed that students were not engaging in revision between their first and final drafts. Through the lens of social constructivism, I examined data collected through surveys, semi-structured interviews, and writing samples. Being both reviewers and recipients of feedback had positive yet distinct impacts on …

Integrative Stem Approach Impact On Mathematical Acquisition And Mathematical Conceptual Understanding, Kayla Grace Eller

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods study investigates the impact of an integrative Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) approach on fourth grade students’ mathematical conceptual understanding and mathematical language acquisition. For the purposes of this research, mathematical language was defined as students’ comprehension and use of key mathematical terminology and concepts, while mathematical conceptual understanding was characterized as a comprehensive and practical grasp of mathematical ideas that goes beyond isolated facts and methods. The study was situated in the theoretical framework of situated cognition learning theory and informed by the conceptual framework of Wells PIRPSOAL model (2016), with particular attention to how …

Stem Integration In The Classroom: An Exploratory Case-Study On Teachers Defining Their Stem Identity And Role As A Stem Educator, Tawana Guillaume

Theses and Dissertations

The push for inclusion of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as a meta-discipline in K-12 education is recognition that the challenges faced by society require technology skills, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and an increased number of people entering STEM professions (Dare et al., 2014; English, 2016; Fan et al., 2021; Holstein & Keene, 2013; Roehrig et al., 2012, 2021; Sanders, 2008). The dissertation in practice explored STEM teacher identity and conceptions of STEM as a function of STEM professional experience outside of the field of education. The exploratory casestudy sought to identify the relationship between STEM career-based experiences – specifically the …

Using Improvement Science To Study The Influence Of A Self-Regulatory Skills Intervention Program Within The Pre-Referral/Student Study Team Process, Abbie Sian-Stirone

Theses and Dissertations

The Dissertation in Practice (DiP) details a continuous improvement study utilizing Improvement Science and Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles to refine a school site's pre-referral/Student Study Team (SST) process. The need for this systemic refinement was driven by reported district-level equity concerns regarding the overrepresentation of Latinx students in special education. The study investigated the influence of a targeted Self-Regulatory Learning (SRL) Intervention Program, which leveraged an SRL Reflection Tool to teach explicit metacognitive and self-management strategies to Latinx students identified as at-risk of special education referral. Conducted in an urban public intermediate school, the research employed qualitative and quantitative data to …

Examining Special Education Administrators' Response To Due Process Complaints And Litigation Specific To Least Restrictive Environent, Melissa Jane Chiplis

Theses and Dissertations

Special education administrators have a complex and comprehensive role that requires them to be knowledgeable about special education law and the development of special education programming within their districts. The complexity of the role includes the managing of federal and state funds, allocating resources for the delivery of special education services, designing professional learning opportunities to support services providers with developing appropriate individualized education plans, and monitoring the effectiveness of special education programs. The outcome of these responsibilities is to ensure students with disabilities receive services in the least restrictive environment and to provide local education agency representatives with the …

​​​How Do Working Conditions Effect Teacher Job Satisfaction And Intention To Stay: Retaining Special Education Teachers​, Alyssa Michelle Raygoza

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher retention remains a leading area of focus in the United States. Recent research efforts have examined the effects of specific work-related experiences on teacher retention. In comparison to teaching in a general education classroom, special education teachers often face increased levels of job demands that can influence the ways in which existing resources may or may not balance out such challenges. The study is grounded in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model, a theoretical framework that has been used widely in both occupational and, more recently, educational research focusing on the specific demands and resources situated within teacher working conditions. …

Enhancing Engagement And Learning In Radiology: Integrating Game-Based And Case-Based Learning In Medical Education, Lisa Willson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods action research is to integrate game-based learning (GBL), specifically an educational escape room, into case-based learning (CBL) and evaluate its impact on the engagement and academic performance of fourth-year medical students in an elective radiology course at a medical school in the southeastern United States. Sixteen students participated in the study; all identified as white. National trends indicate a significant decrease in student engagement and academic performance across various educational settings, including medical education (Kay & Pasarica, 2019). Locally, this trend is reflected in declining test scores and student feedback indicating disengagement and poor retention …

Investigating Connections Among Cognitive Coaching, Student Agency And Achievement In Ninth Grade Algebra 1, Terri Renee Rathburn

Theses and Dissertations

This convergent parallel mixed-methods action research study explored the application of Cognitive Coaching as a student-centered intervention to promote agency and academic achievement in a ninth-grade Algebra 1 classroom. Grounded in Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and informed by self-regulated learning and agentic engagement frameworks, the study investigated how structured coaching conversations supported students’ intentionality, forethought, self-reactiveness, and self-reflectiveness.

Findings indicate that students who engaged in coaching demonstrated measurable growth in self-reported agency and thematic analysis of coaching transcripts revealed shifts from passive compliance to proactive engagement. While achievement results on the Algebra 1 end of course assessment did not reveal …

Unlocking The Power Of Connection: Engagement And Communication With Limited/ Non English Language Families, Melinda Hope Burnette

Theses and Dissertations

Family engagement can positively impact a student’s academic performance, attendance, literacy, and behavior at school (Bachman et al., 2021; Garbacz et al., 2018; Houri et al., 2019; Karge & Lansky, 2011; Robinson et al., 2022). However, there are several barriers to school-family communication, including additional responsibilities outside the school setting and socioeconomic factors. Parents and families who have limited/no English literacy skills face additional barriers to participation because of the lack of language support from schools in communicating events, providing access to language support at events, and parent perceptions of school acceptance (Arellanes et al., 2023; Perrigo et al., 2022; …

The Impact Of Incorporating Crp And Growth Mindset Into The Learning Environment For Increasing Student Enrollment In Advanced Mathematics Courses, Srinivas Akella

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study explored the impact of incorporating Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP), goal setting, and growth mindset strategies into the learning environment of an advanced mathematics course. The overall goal was to increase enrollment of underrepresented student groups in advanced mathematics courses at a small rural high school in Georgia. The problem of practice addressed in this study is the underrepresentation of African American students in advanced-level mathematics courses, such as Precalculus and Calculus, due to structural, cultural, and psychological barriers. Despite the importance of advanced mathematics for college readiness and access to STEM careers, students from underserved …

Supporting School Administrators’ Knowledge Of The Idea: What Do They Know And What Do They Think, Rachel Renae Garrison

Theses and Dissertations

School level administrators play a critical role in the implementation of obligations set forth by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in their schools. To implement these obligations administrators, need to know and understand the IDEA. Researchers have shown that administrators often graduate from their principal preparation programs with little to no instruction in special education law, often leaving them feeling unprepared. The research that has been done into administrator knowledge of the IDEA has shown mixed results in levels of knowledge across different areas. Researchers have also found inconsistencies in administrators’ reported perceptions of their knowledge when compared …

Improving District Targeted Support For Schools With Low Student Achievement By Implementing Assistance Relationships With School Leaders, Mary Ashley Gaskins

Theses and Dissertations

Riverbend School District faced a challenge: the lack of a formalized structure for providing schools with targeted support that meets their unique needs and increases student achievement. This study explored how the district-level instructional team could customize support to improve English Language Arts and Math performance at schools with low student achievement. The theory of improvement posited that district instructional leaders engaging in assistance relationships – through modeling instructional leadership and providing conceptual and practical tools – would enhance school leaders' capacity, ultimately improving teaching and learning. A key action of the improvement team was the creation and implementation of …

Enhancing Teacher Self-Efficacy In Ngss Storyline Implementation: A Mixed Methods Action Research Study On Professional Development In Middle School Science Education, Dena Spickard Fender

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study examined how professional development (PD) influences middle school science teachers’ self-efficacy in implementing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Storyline curriculum. The study also explored which aspects of PD are most effective in supporting teachers at different career stages. Teacher self-efficacy is a critical factor in the successful adoption of reform-based science instruction, yet limited research has investigated how PD can be differentiated to address the needs of novice, intermediate, and veteran educators in underperforming schools.

A convergent mixed-methods design was employed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. The Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument-A …

Exploring Student Perceptions Of Culture Within An Algebra Unit: A Qualitative Action Research Study, Alesha Marie Love

Theses and Dissertations

Many barriers exist when teaching and learning mathematics. Although the mathematics curriculum is rigid and rigorous by design it is often not culturally relevant for the students engaging with the content. As a result, many students of color do not have an appropriate amount of representation to connect to a subject area that already seems exclusionary. This qualitative action research study examines the effects of introducing culturally relevant references into an Algebra unit for students of color, exploring the influence of exposure to cultural references and the minimal display of cultural and racial identities within the mathematics curriculum on students …

The Church As An Ecological And Cultural Anchor: Examining Its Role In Gifted Education, Advanced Academic Access, And Educational Equity, Matrissa Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examines the role of the Black church as an ecological and cultural anchor in addressing the inequities of gifted education and expanding access to advanced academic opportunities for Black students. The study is grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, critical race theory, and racial and ethnical socialization, and it explores how the Black church can support student development, empower parental advocacy, and partner with schools to promote educational equity. Conducted at Mountain Valley Baptist Church in South Carolina, the interventions included student mentoring, goal setting sessions, academic enrichment, emotional support initiatives, a parent workshop, and a …

Creating Meaningful And Relevant Professional Development Using Improvement Science, Jo R. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of practice focuses on how to improve professional development. Using improvement science, a team of individuals at the school engaged in problem solving techniques to discover the underlying root causes of the problem. The improvement team was composed of administrators, instructional coaches, and teacher leaders who worked in different areas of the school. Collectively, these individuals felt passionately about growing the staff members through effective professional development. Exploring the professional development sessions teachers were attending on campus, there were visible indicators that teachers were not engaged nor were they participating. Unpacking the issue further, the improvement team uncovered …

Strategies For Developing Mathematical Identities In Middle School Students, Margaret M. Stevens

Theses and Dissertations

This concurrent mixed-methods action research study investigated the impact of mathematical discourse intervention on seventh-grade students’ mathematical identities and understanding. Twenty students participated in a four-week intervention implementing Smith and Stein’s (2018) five practices plus one framework.

Quantitative results showed curriculum-based assessments improved significantly (p < .001, d = 1.64). State mathematics assessment revealed minimal change in mean scores. The Mathematical Identity Questionnaire revealed positive shifts across all five constructs, with largest gains in Mathematical Initiative (+0.40) and Problem-Solving Persistence (+0.30). Qualitative analysis using Bingham’s (2023) five-phase process revealed three themes: Mathematical Voice Development, Identity Transformation Through Competence Building, and Communal Validation. Social Cognitive Theory and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy integration showed how discourse interventions addressed both individual self-efficacy and systemic inequities. Findings suggest intensive discourse intervention can initiate positive changes in mathematical identity and understanding for struggling students. Implications include restructuring mathematics instruction to prioritize student discourse and voice, creating more equitable learning environments.

A Qualitative Study Of Middle School Teachers’ Experiences Integrating Computer Coding Into Mathematics Classrooms, George William Austin Iii

Theses and Dissertations

As computers become more accessible in schools nationwide, teachers are embracing them to impact achievement positively (Brudno, 2013; Cetin, 2016). As a result, computer coding instruction has gained attention as a strategy for providing students with skills that will serve them both pre and post-graduation (Burke & Kafai, 2013; Yadav et al., 2016; Ng, 2017). Computer coding is the process of providing instructions for a computer to follow. In 2017, the South Carolina State Board of Education approved Computer Science and Digital Literacy standards for all K-8 public schools in the state of South Carolina (South Carolina Department of Education, …

Developing A Dynamic Bilingual Space In An Early Childhood Korean Heritage Language Classroom Through Multimodal Translanguaging Pedagogy, Kyungjin Hwang

Theses and Dissertations

Drawing on translanguaging theory and multimodal literacy, this dissertation examines how a multimodal translanguaging pedagogy can create a dynamic bilingual space in a Korean heritage language classroom in the southeastern United States. Using a teacher-research design and thematic analysis of classroom video recordings and student artifacts, the study explored ten instructional modules with Korean-American children aged five to six. It first identified the core components of the pedagogy, its framework, curriculum content, and teacher strategies, and then analyzed how children flexibly used Korean and English across modes such as speaking, writing, and drawing. Findings revealed diverse translanguaging forms and functions. …

The Impact Of Project-Based Learning On Future First Generation College Students’ Oral Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Confidence Levels, And College And Career Readiness, Mandana Marashi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the impact of a project-based learning innovation course on high school students’ oral communication, presentation skills, confidence levels, and college and career readiness in a college and career readiness program housed at a university in the Mid-Atlantic region. Effective oral communication and presentation skills have been continuously emphasized by national organizations and employers to be critical skills for success in students’ academic and professional lives. However, teaching oral communication and presentation skills to high school students has been neglected, which has negatively affected students’ college and career readiness, particularly for students …

​​​Creating A Resident And Fellow Scholarly Activity Tracking Tool In A Large Academic Health System: A Dissertation In Practice​, Elyse Anne Wieszczecinski

Theses and Dissertations

Documenting and reviewing resident and fellow scholarly activity within a sponsoring institution can be a laborious task. With multiple lines of information coming from a wide variety of sources, this problem of practice implemented the Information Systems Success Model to help develop a database by which this information can be collected in a way that is efficient while maintaining the need for a user-friendly product. While other healthcare entities have also incorporated this model into their scholarly activity collection, these are still individual needs of the sponsoring institution and its constituents to consider when adapting the strategy. Using an improvement …

Personal Finance Education In Florida: Teaching The Teachers, Jessica Morey

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study with an explanatory sequential design investigated teacher financial capability and financial well-being in advance of a mandate that will require high school students in Florida to take a semester-long personal finance course, taught by social studies teachers. Survey results from 47 participants—teachers at a large suburban high school and high school social studies teachers across a Florida school district serving just over 29,000 students—indicated that while most teachers can answer basic financial literacy questions, many lack the financial self-efficacy to ensure their financial future. Teachers had varying experiences with financial socialization. While many had experienced …

Journey To Proficiency: The Impact Of Explicit Problem-Solving Instruction In A Fifth-Grade Math Classroom, Brittany J. Terry

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examined the impact of explicit problem-solving instruction on fifth-grade students’ mathematics proficiency and attitudes across skill levels. At the outset, students relied on rote procedures rather than conceptual reasoning, limiting their ability to apply skills in new contexts or understand why procedures work. Grounded in constructivist and sociocultural learning theories, the study aimed to move students beyond procedural fluency through explicit instruction of problem-solving strategies, modeling, guided practice, collaboration, and reflection. Over 8 weeks, 32 students participated in daily lessons. Findings from pre–post assessments, interviews, and portfolios indicate that explicit problem-solving instruction supported measurable growth in …

The Case For Using Student-Generated Goals To Cultivate Strong Readers, Heather Anne Wyman

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study explored how to motivate seventh-grade students to become stronger readers. I empowered my students by giving them the autonomy to set their own Lexile goals and develop plans to reach them, offering goal-setting lessons along with feedback and support. Students were motivated to meet the goals they created. Lexile assessment data from two benchmark periods enabled me to determine students’ growth, and survey and interview data helped me to determine their perceptions of their increase in self-efficacy and motivation to achieve. While most students did not meet their self-identified Lexile goals, most made academic progress, …