Why So Few? Sense-Making The Latino Librarian’S Place In The Hispanic-Serving Institution: A Phenomenological Approach, Valentin Macias Jr.

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Despite record Latinx student enrollment across California's higher education systems, Latino men remain severely underrepresented in academic librarianship, comprising less than 0.5% of librarians nationally. This persistent gap represents a critical equity issue within a profession that increasingly serves diverse student populations. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of twelve Latino male academic library professionals at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) through in-depth interviews to understand the factors shaping their professional identity, the barriers they encounter, and what sustains their persistence in the profession. Using transcendental phenomenology as the methodological approach and Critical Race Theory as the theoretical framework, the study …

Building Bridges: Evaluating Teacher Preparation And Program Activation Of Ethnic Studies In California’S K-12 High Schools Through An Autoethnography, Jose Aguilera-Lopez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examines the lived experiences of secondary Social Science educators teaching Ethnic Studies in the early stages of program activation, with particular attention to the challenges that are often invisible to policymakers, institutions of higher education, and K-12 school districts. Using an autoethnographic approach, the research examines key elements of Ethnic Studies Program Activation, including infrastructure support, capacity building, professional development led by experienced Ethnic Studies practitioners, and teaching with fidelity. The findings aim to provide actionable guidance for educators and district leaders to support new Ethnic Studies teachers at the secondary level and to inform leadership teams at …

Teacher's Efficacy In Fostering A Sense Of Belonging In Newcomer Adolescent Students, Brenda Melendrez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Schools are continuously serving a growing population of newcomer students that face unique social, cultural, and linguistic barriers (McCabe et al., 2024). Newcomer adolescent students experience additional challenges in high school contexts, due to the academic pressures, developmental changes, and social isolation hindering their sense of belonging (Fabris et al., 2024). Teachers play a central role in fostering belonging through teacher-student relationships, daily interactions, and academic and emotional support (Ozdemir & Ozdemir, 2020). However, teachers have reported limited teacher preparation on fostering belonging among newcomer students, impacting their confidence and ability to support their students (Motitswe, 2025). Teachers have specifically …

Teaching Through A Cultural Lens: A Practitioner’S Self-Study On Fostering Science Engagement Among Latina/O And African American Middle School Students, Michelle R. Estrada-Quezada

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Latina/os and African American students are underrepresented in STEM fields and STEM majors. Participation in STEM related activities and course work dwindles over the course of K-16 schooling, a phenomenon known as the leaky pipeline. Culturally relevant teaching is one practice that has been found to increase engagement and academic success among underrepresented student populations. This research project aims to study the impact of culturally relevant science teaching on the teacher and the students through a semester-long self- study in an eighth-grade middle school classroom. Data sources included daily reflection journals, critical friend debrief sessions with an advisor, student pre- …

Teaching Context Analysis Assignment, Tamara M. Roose

Teacher Education and Technology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Chicana/Latina Secondary Administrators: Triumphs, Obstacles, And Discernment ¡Sí Se Pudo!, Erika Tejeda, Angela Clark Louque

Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Stem Education With Generative Ai: A Case Study Exploring Student Learning, Motivation, And Teacher Perception In Thailand, Parin Chawalit

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigates how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools can support STEM education in a Thai secondary school setting. Conducted during a one-day STEM camp involving 50 students (grades 9–11) and one science teacher, the study explored the use of ChatGPT and Gemini to support students’ engagement in a bridge design challenge. The research examined GenAI’s influence on student learning within the engineering design process (EDP), student motivation and engagement, and teacher perceptions of AI integration.

Thematic analysis of observations, student surveys, interviews, and AI interaction logs revealed that GenAI tools supported students primarily during the early phases …

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 …

Supporting Multilingualism In Early Childhood Education: The Vital Role Of Teacher Development, Ebeny Salazar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The expansion of multilingualism, the ability to speak and understand more than one language, has added to a culturally diverse world today. With these abilities, those who are multilingual from diverse backgrounds are often met with resistance against the dominant Westernized culture. Currently, there is not adequate training in the United States for teachers to be able to implement a multilingual curriculum in early childhood settings and classrooms. There are many benefits to providing a diverse classroom environment, which can have a positive impact on the young learners present. The importance of supporting multilingual children, specifically in early childhood, is …

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 …

Mi Testimonio: The Beginning Of My Healing Journey, Maria A. Vega

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

My testimonio, presented as my dissertation, is a deep and personal reflection on my experiences as an immigrant and multilingual student. I share my story by trenzando—braiding—lived experiences, critical analysis, and relevant research on immigration and trauma, language and identity, and the links between multilingualism and academic success. Through deep reflection and analysis, I draw on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (1943), Giles and Johnson’s Ethnolinguistic Identity Theory (1981), and García’s (2009) translanguaging framework to explore the following questions:

1. How does the oppression of one’s linguistic and cultural practices affect identity development?
2. How does my story—my testimonio—empower the mother, …

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, …

Assessing The Social And Structural Impediments That Preclude Black Males From Entering The Teaching Profession: Exploring The Effectiveness Of Project Impact, Kerry Neal

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The acute underrepresentation of Black male educators in the United States constitutes a persistent crisis in both education and social equity. Despite numerous efforts to diversify the teaching profession, Black men represent only 2% of the national teaching workforce—a figure that falls even lower in regions such as Southern California, where they comprise just 1.8% of teachers despite representing a significant share of the student population (California Department of Education, 2022). Empirical evidence consistently affirms the critical impact of Black male teachers on the academic achievement, identity development, and long-term success of Black students (Gershenson et al., 2018; Dee, 2020). …

The Effectiveness Of Online Learning Technologies In Zimbabwean Primary And Secondary Schools During The Covid-19 Pandemic (2020-2022), Kudakwashe Magwenzi

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Zimbabwe, a country with modest technological infrastructure and insufficient government support systems, was forced to switch to online instructions almost overnight as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on. This research investigates the effectiveness of learning technologies applied in Zimbabwean primary and secondary schools during the pandemic based on responses gathered from surveys and in-depth interviews with various stakeholders. This research was informed by the essences of constructivism and connectivism theories that say that optimal learning takes place through engagement, collaboration, and interaction and educational technologies potentially can foster effective learning by facilitating access to information, enabling peer interactions and utilization …

A Mixed Method Study Of Teachers' Perception Of Positive Reinforcement For Behavior Management, Maricela B. Aceves Ed.D., Debra L. Cote Ph.D., Sue Singh Ph.D., Ayako Shweikle Ph.D., Shannon L. Sparks Ph.D.

Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice

Abstract

Positive reinforcement is a behavior management technique supported by empirical evidence, known to enhance student performance and their outcomes (Alberto et al., 2022; Fabiano & Pelham, 2003; Scheuermann, 2022). However, many teachers encounter difficulties in effectively implementing this tool in their everyday classroom teaching practices. This mixed methods study aimed to contribute to existing literature focusing on instructional behavior of credentialed teachers. The findings revealed that teachers who received training in PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) observed the following: (1) the overall benefits of rewarding appropriate student behavior with activities, (2) the significance of having adequate resources and …

Exploring Teacher Perceptions About Cultural Practices During Transitions, Katherine Lee Haberstroh

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This dissertation explores teacher perceptions of cultural practices and language that teachers use during transitional times between class-to-class and assignment-to-assignment. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is more to cultural practices than what current literature defines for critical life events and transitions. Artifact analysis from 18 school mission statements, semi structured interviews with eight participants, and rich observations were conducted. The content analysis defined, reviewed, and analyzed teacher perceptions of cultural practices and the language which they produced during their practices. From the exploration of the class-to-class and assignment-to-assignment, specific examples of cultural practices and language …

Transforming Black Students’ Higher Education Experiences And Lives: A Proposal For The Csu, Don Lundy

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

For decades, a racial “achievement gap” has persisted in U.S. higher education. Specifically, White students have outperformed Black students on a number of indicators, including college admissions, standardized test scores, and graduation rates. This graduate project considers several explanations for this persistent inequity. The root of the problem, it argues, is U.S. higher education’s history of racism and exclusion and the oversaturation of whiteness in these institutions. In other words, U.S. higher education was built for and continues to serve White students at the expense of Black students. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) show us that when whiteness is …

Development Of A Sustainable Social Emotional Learning Workshop Series For Kindergarten To Second Grade Teachers, Claire Reyes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

In this project, I propose a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) workshopseries for kindergarten through second-grade teachers. In the recent decade, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on mental health, SEL programs have gained attention, and many have recognized the need for these programs in the classroom (Katz,2020). Early integration of SEL (e.g., in early childhood and elementary school classrooms) is essential to lifelong social and emotional development and positive outcomes (Mondi et al., 2021). However, SEL may feel difficult for teachers to incorporate in the classroom; teachers may learn about SEL broadly and inconsistently; thus, they feel …

The Components Of Professional Development Design And Methods That Teachers Perceive As The Most Valuable., Elizabeth Esquivelhofstedt

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine the key design components of transformational teacher professional development programming using sensemaking theory and adult learning theory. This research study was comprised of five phases: 1) needs assessment pre-survey of participating teachers, 2) follow-up interviews with participating teachers, 3) construction of professional development session using the needs assessment pre-survey and follow-up interviews 4) professional development session presentation to teachers 5) post-survey after the professional development session repeating the needs assessment survey to compare pre to post surveys

Instructional Technology Implementation: Barriers Impacting Student Success, Roxanna Zendejas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this comparative case study is to explore the benefits of effective technology integration in the classroom, as well as the best teaching practices related to instructional technology. It was designed to identify (a) educator beliefs, (b) digital divide, as well as other barriers, and (c) best practices and instructional strategies.

Methodology. This qualitative comparative case study research design explored the best practices of 10 middle school teachers by using a semi-structured interview protocol. A qualitative design was selected to focus on an individual, partnership, small group, and organization. Using comparative case study allowed the researcher to …

Xinachtli: Exploring The Experiences Of Young Resilient Latinas In A Rural And Under-Resourced Community, Deborah Hernandez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This interpretive phenomenology study aimed to explore the lived experiences of young Latinas in a rural and under-resourced community. The analysis of the messages received by young women in educational institutions, at home, and in science and math classes was necessary due to the underrepresentation of Latinas in STEM fields. Using an interpretive phenomenology lens, the researcher collected journals from seven participants. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with all seven participants every week for 16 weeks by the Xinachtli facilitator. The data collected from the journals were transcribed in a line-by-line analysis and affirmed using qualitative analysis. The codes were …

Journal Of Critical Issues In Educational Practice Vol. 12, Tiffany Bates, Jaime Welborn, Christine Uliassi

Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice

It is our great privilege to be the editors of this journal. The opportunity to review the scholarly work of others and provide a forum for dissemination is important work. Three original pieces of research are included in this volume of the journal. Selected for originality and timeliness, it is our hope that some part of your educational practice might be informed. It is our goal to feature voices that might be considered outside of the expected or usual.

What is your philosophy of education? One might ask if this is ever a serious question or rather just an academic …

Much To Do About Identity: Successful Women In Science Reflect On Their School Years, Jonathan L. Hall, Malcom B. Butler

Teacher Education and Technology Faculty Publications

This study presents the recollections of 12 successful women in science duringtheir school years before postsecondary education. The participants shareddetailed descriptions of their science experiences through three semi-structured interviews. An identity works conceptual framework consisting offigured worlds, positioning, and agency constructs to portray the complexdynamics of their experiences was used to analyze the data. The following fourthemes emerged from the data analysis: participants had an early interest inmathematics and science; they were“stubbornly”persistent in science-figuredworlds; they engaged in science-figured worlds beyond school; and they posi-tioned themselves as science leaders. These findings add to the evolution of sci-ence identity development theoretical models …

Language Ideologies In First Year Composition Textbooks, Joanna Clevenger

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This thesis examines how standard language ideologies are perpetuated in the five most frequently assigned first year composition textbooks from four higher education institutions in Southern California’s Inland Empire. Standard language ideologies position one variation of a language as superior, correct, appropriate and the normal variation of a language which everyone should be able to speak. Using Critical Discourse Analysis, the five textbooks were analyzed in order to uncover the embedded power and hegemony over women, people of color, and those from a lower socioeconomic status which are prevalent throughout society because they are unchallenged and widely accepted as the …

Examination Of Experiential Phenomena Influencing Culinary Educators’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Danny Babin

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study aimed to explore the theory of expert teaching by comparing culinary educators at the secondary and postsecondary levels based on their varying levels of experience. Experience for culinary educators included pre-service teacher training, in-service teacher training, professional industry experience, and teaching experience. The primary goal of this descriptive phenomenological study was to examine the impact professional experience has on culinary educators’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). Distinctions in PCK include collective PCK, personal PCK, and enacted PCK. PCK theory has been an integral part of educational research for over three decades; it has been studied, refined, and implemented into …

Radicalizing First Year Composition: A Novice Educator’S Venture Into Revolutionary Teaching, Xochilt Trujillo Flores

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

­­This project is based on my experiences and reflections as a novice instructor on implementing educational practices which center a critical, feminist, anti-racist pedagogical approach in a first year composition course. Using my own experiences of teaching FYC as a central focus, this project will collect data through teacher-reflective journals. Those journals will be focused on how radical pedagogy shapes my approaches to teaching and how I experience/implement that approach in my day-to-day practices. In doing so, this project aims to address the persistent gap between theory and practice, particularly in the context of novice educators’ experiences in a …

Accessibility Of Mental Health Resources In Schools, Zitlaly Lizeth Cruz-Roman, Vianney Consepcion Sandoval

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study aimed to examine parents’ and staff’s perception of the accessibility and awareness of mental health resources in school. Mental health resources are made available in school settings; however, not all families and students are aware of the resources being provided. To address the accessibility of mental health resources, research needs to take place to understand why these resources are not being utilized. Individuals’ mental health will improve by creating awareness of the resources since they will be aware of the resources and use them based on their needs. The research project utilized quantitative research methods and descriptive research …

Understanding The Role Of Science-Specific Literacy Strategies In Supporting Science Teaching And Student Learning: A Case Study Of Preservice Elementary Teachers In A Science Methods Course That Integrated A Disciplinary Literacy Framework, Su Gao, Jonathan L. Hall, Vassiliki Zygouris-Coe, Rebecca A. Grysko

Teacher Education and Technology Faculty Publications

The shift to student engagement in scientific and engineering practices to learn science provides opportunities for science learning and language learning to occur in tandem. These opportunities also pose new challenges for elementary pre-service teachers (PSTs) since literacy methods courses have been presented separately from science methods courses. We integrated a disciplinary literacy framework in a science methods course to help elementary PSTs understand the synergistic connections between literacy and science teaching. The purpose of this study was to examine elementary PSTs’ understanding of the use of science-specific literacy strategies to support science teaching and learning through three points of …

Lesson Plan Template For Clinical Practice, Teaching Performance Assessment, And In-Service Teaching, Karen Escalante

Teacher Education and Technology Faculty Publications

Becoming an effective teacher takes time, preparation, purposeful planning and deep knowledge of your students and the content / curriculum. Purposeful lesson planning supports you in your development as an educator and it works to ensure PK-12 students are being taught to think and engage with the content area, with the ultimate goal of transferring that knowledge to global understandings and patterns.

Building A Community Of Practice: A Case Study Of Introductory College Chemistry Students, Jonathan L. Hall, Katherine R. Whitaker, Samantha R. Seals, Pamela P. Benz

Teacher Education and Technology Faculty Publications

Engagement in active learning and learning communities is important for persistence of STEM students early in their academic programs. Colleges and universities have an ongoing call to facilitate active learning techniques, yet large group, lecture-based instruction is still the prominent method of instruction. This qualitative case study examines interviews and classroom observations of undergraduate chemistry students enrolled at a primarily undergraduate institution. Critical educational elements were identified for chemistry students participating in a redesigned, introductory course which included a collaborative peer-lead learning experience. The participants engaged in required, weekly sessions structured around community building and active learning. The data were …