The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) is affiliated with over 400 schools across the globe. WELS schools are experiencing a teacher shortage and concerning teacher attrition levels like other school systems. Research indicates that job satisfaction is a predictor for organizational commitment, and principals' leadership style has a…

Purpose: Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) encounter many challenges in the school environment. We sought to identify school-based SLPs' needs in the areas of training and research to support school-based practice. Method: We collected surveys from 145 school-based SLPs practicing in Wisconsin. Respondents were asked to describe aspects of…

Past research demonstrates the degree to which extracurricular activities, paid work, and major family responsibilities impinge on student academic trajectories. Largely absent from this body of work is consideration of the ways in which schools and teachers mitigate the adverse consequences of out-of-school obligations and choices on academic…

This article is one of the few empirical studies exploring the "dark side" of ethical leadership. Using Oplatka's Irresponsible Leadership as an unethical leadership framework, the qualitative study explores how teachers conceptualize and experience unethical administrative leadership at their respective schools in the United States.…

This study examined the role of Wisconsin superintendents in the professional development of school boards as related to Eadie's (2009) keys to high-impact governing. The quantitative, descriptive study surveyed 129 Wisconsin superintendents on their perceptions of their roles and responsibilities regarding school board professional development.…

World language classrooms in the United States have been significantly impacted by the physical and ideological disruptions experienced in recent history. Such disruptive times call for the reform of pedagogical practices to raise awareness of social justice issues and ignite real change both in and out of language classrooms. This essay outlines…

Youth who were in foster care as adolescents make up a small but highly vulnerable subpopulation of the college student body. This article analyzes secondary data collected from one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies of foster youth. The analytic sample includes 329 foster youth from three Midwestern states who attended college in the…

The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which teachers perceive the 21 Responsibilities of a School Leader. Marzano, Waters and McNulty's correlational study of 2005 found an increase in student achievement when principals chose to implement, maintain, and support the 21 responsibilities in their schools. The researcher examined…

The goal of safely and sustainably reopening K-12 school buildings for in-person learning is widely recognized as critical to minimizing the impact of academic, social, emotional, and mental strains brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. In order for in-person learning to succeed on an ongoing basis, schools must be able to offer safe…

Strong and stable school leadership is critical for success in schools across the nation. The duties of the principal are many and varied. Principals, for example, can oversee instruction, purchase curricular materials and supplies, and provide professional learning and supports for teachers. Carrying out these duties effectively makes a…

Wisconsin Virtual School, a state online learning program that offers supplemental online courses to partner districts in Wisconsin, administered a survey to its teachers in fall 2014 to learn more about their training experiences and challenges. More Wisconsin Virtual School teachers reported participating in training or professional development…

This publication highlights how state policies and guidance are supporting the transformation to personalized learning through digital instructional materials. Specifically, the report includes personalized learning approaches and the policies and processes around the selection, curation, procurement, professional learning and funding of digital…

This case presents a discussion of events that led to the dismissal of a teacher for cause. A first year high school principal is confronted with teacher behavior that creates a dangerous situation for students. The decision process to determine the appropriate organizational response involves a number of individuals and systems. The…

This study examined high-school principals' perceptions of their preparedness for their financial responsibilities. The participants were high-school principals from the state of Wisconsin. Surveys were sent to 150 high-school principals who were members of the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA), Wisconsin's professional…

REL Midwest, in partnership with the Midwest Virtual Education Research Alliance, analyzed the results of a survey administered to Wisconsin Virtual School teachers about the training in which they participated related to online instruction, the challenges they encounter while teaching online, and the type of training they thought would help them…