Borrowing student loans can be confusing and intimidating, enough so that these feelings can influence how students go to college or whether they even enroll at all. Colleges have a responsibility to provide loan counseling to federal student loan borrowers--which, when done intently, can produce a potentially clarifying and empowering experience.…

The purpose of this study was to understand professional development for paraprofessionals supporting students with ASD in Virginia. This understanding was reached through explanatory, sequential mixed methods design. Surveys and interviews provided insight into training practices, training needs, and training barriers. An interpretation of their…

This study examines an innovative model program for the mentorship of diverse graduate students entitled the "Inter-Ethnic/Interdisciplinary Mentoring Institute for Graduate Education" (i.e., "Mentoring Institute"), which was established by the Graduate Student Diversity Programs in the Office of the Vice President for Research…

This study examines aspects of professional development experiences of 19 Greek Fulbright teachers of humanities regarding schooling, learning and teaching as documented in e-portfolios completed during a project of academic course and fieldwork in the United States during their collective participation in an international professional development…

The purpose of this article is to describe lessons learned from studying the leadership in eight award-winning secondary schools and districts that were recognized for successfully leveraging technology as part of their efforts for school improvement. Data were collected through observations, interviews, and document analysis in schools and…

There is wide agreement that the well-paying jobs of the future will require postsecondary credentials. But for many students attending community college, developmental (or remedial) classes in reading, composition, and/or mathematics--the courses that students often must complete before they can enroll in courses that confer credit toward a…

Universities and schools are struggling with the critical issues surrounding teacher quality, student learning, and the gap between research and practice. This study employed a collective case-study design to explore the impact of leadership teams and school-university partnerships on teacher leadership, professional development, and overall…

The purpose of this study was to examine teachers' perceptions of their school environment in terms of factors that enhance or prohibit the use of instructional technology. The study also investigated whether the technology implementation environment varied for schools at different locations and different levels. Both quantitative and qualitative…

What is the state of the art and science with regard to professional development for principals? What is the status of principal professional development in the four-state region of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia? This policy paper attempts to answer these two questions through a review of the literature, seven interviews, and a…

While mentoring programs continue to increase in number, the field still knows little about what kinds of interventions mentors do and the impact they have on beginning teachers. This article shares a case study example of a positive mentoring relationship--beginning teacher Madeleine, and her mentor, Kelly--extracted from a larger qualitative…

In a recent "Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education" article, the author reported on a single case of a successful mentor-beginning teacher pairing that was derived from a larger qualitative study (Certo, 2005). The purpose of this article is to report findings from that larger investigation. Three Virginia elementary 1st-year…

The mission of the Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative (ARSI) was to build a long-term capacity that would improve the educational structures of the rural communities it served. The major strategy ARSI used to create improvement communities across Appalachia was to identify, embrace and educate individual teachers, who became ARSI Teacher…