This qualitative study focused on the perceived effectiveness of a formal mentoring program in developing instructional leadership skills for K-12 novice principals with 5 or fewer years of experience. The 13 participants for this study were derived from 200 public schools in the Southwest Tennessee area. The participants consented to participate…

This dissertation examines the response of a group of educators to a state mandate to integrate computational thinking (CT) into all levels of the curriculum. It explores the historical development of CT and its significance within the broader context of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education, emphasizing the rapid growth and…

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore the early career pathways of women who are deans in academic medicine to understand how they perceived their developed leadership skills and how they identified strategies to advance women into dean leadership roles. Theoretical Framework: Social role theory states that societal expectations of…

This dissertation explores the field of deaf interpreting and discusses essential issues, including career barriers, mentorship, and certification. It looks at the tenacity and willpower of deaf interpreters, emphasizing the reasons and networks of support that have allowed them to work for a long time. Studies demonstrate the valuable role deaf…

The General Educational Development (GED) is a high school equivalency credential sought after by millions of Americans who do not hold a traditional high school diploma. This program evaluation offers insight to a local adult GED program as it seeks to increase the retention and GED completion rates of the students in their program. The…

This dissertation presents a phenomenological qualitative study that examines the lived experiences of six Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Directors representing county, urban, and suburban school districts. The study aims to explore the perspectives, challenges, and strategies of SEL Directors in implementing SEL programs district-wide. The…

Adequate education experiences and passing licensure examinations are imperative to professional entry and the career success of aspiring barbers. This improvement science initiative addressed low passing rates on the North Carolina Apprentice Barber Licensure Exam (NC ABLE). The initiative aimed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to…

The purpose of this research was to explore the experiences of burnout and compassion fatigue among postsecondary undergraduate student leaders working in supportive, helping roles at a small liberal arts college, and to identify mitigation and coping strategies for these phenomena at both the individual and organization level. Guided by social…

First-generation students identify from unique familial upbringings and disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds and are not afforded the same educational opportunities as their non-first generation counterparts as a result. The disparities first-generation students experience throughout education contributes to their educational access,…

To realize more equitable technology futures, it is not enough to simply adapt technology to be more inclusive "after" it is created. We will also need to equip technology creators with the skills they need to critically reflect upon bias and exclusion "during" the technology design process. The question of how to best to…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how secondary school administrators describe their professional learning and productive partnerships in special education to lead in inclusive schools in public schools in the Northeast Region of the United States. The conceptual framework for this study is the Star Model developed…

This study examines the challenges facing undergraduate international students in an American higher education institution and how leadership skills and leadership development may assist these students with overcoming their challenges and achieving their goals. The challenges international students face may differ from domestic peers. These…

Deficits in the systems inherent to the field of ASL-English interpreting have resulted in gaps and barriers that impact novice interpreter practitioners. As a potential mitigating factor, research has shown the importance of developing confidence and self-efficacy in novice interpreters. Due to time and curricular restraints, the current system…

Increasing numbers of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are being placed in the general classroom requiring educators to know how to use evidence-based strategies and interventions to address challenges related to their social skills and behaviors. The purpose of this case study was to understand rural school educators' perspectives…

Science Olympiad (SO) is a team-oriented STEM competition that offers students the opportunity to participate in a wide range of STEM topics attracting students with varying STEM interests. This hermeneutic phenomenological cross-case study explored the experiences of 12 SO coaches with experience coaching middle school and/or high school teams.…