As superintendents steer their districts through uncharted territories, their experiences and strategies are key to transforming schools. This study employed transcendental phenomenology to explore how seven Virginia superintendents from two different regions described their experiences implementing novel cultural competency training. Data…

School principals are uniquely positioned to bring innovative programs to K-12 schools. Therapy dog programs are one such program that has received much attention from educational communities nationwide. The problem is that while several studies can be found proposing the benefits of therapy dog programs in school settings, there needs to be more…

With the drastic change in societal needs over the past several decades, there is no surprise that creativity has become a subject of heightened interest to the field of teaching (Plucker, et al., 2004). This qualitative study investigated the meaning of creative experiences according to K-6 administrators and teachers. This research aims to draw…

School districts across the United States have seen an increase in the number of students who need behavioral support. The problem is that early childhood teachers who serve as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) coaches have challenges implementing the PBIS framework because of lack of buy in and resources such as time and…

The term "equity" is commonly used in education discourse as a goal of educational improvement efforts. Yet, the term can be conceptualized in many ways, and equity conceptions are rarely interrogated in policy studies (Bulkley, 2013; Jencks, 1988; Levinson et al., 2022). Still, equity conceptions reflect an underlying ideology and…

Research from the field has indicated that when a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) is implemented within education settings, these data-driven frameworks can promote positive student academic and behavioral outcomes, as well as safe and optimal school climates (Ockerman et al., 2012, Sugai & Horner, 2009; Ziomek-Daigle, 2016). As school…

As the rise in need for social emotional learning (SEL) becomes apparent in schools, the lack consistent implementation in schools is apparent. Information has been collected stating how districts, schools, and teachers implement their own SEL lessons into the classroom to promote student well-being. The purpose of this qualitative study was to…

School climate can be complex to measure and to change, but it is clear that it is a critical component of an effective school. One practice that has been shown to positively influence school climate is Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). PBIS is a framework of evidence-based practices and its power for initiating change has…

Through a lens of cultural capital, this dissertation explored the complex implementation of Section 504 policy in public high schools, focused on how school-level characteristics and the state-level litigious educational environment impact the qualifying rates of 504 plans. This study of the 2017-18 school year employed data from national…

The community school strategy was first introduced in Baltimore City in 2012. Community schools are public elementary or secondary schools that provide comprehensive academic, social, and health services for students, families, and community members (U.S. Department of Education, 2023). In 2021, the state of Maryland made a substantial commitment…

In March 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic caused schools to close for an extended period, disrupting learning for about 55 million students (Center for Effective School Practices, 2022). Upon their return to school, educators committed to accelerating student learning to make up for missed learning. However, to support students' academic…

Purpose and Method of Study: The purpose of this action research school-wide case study was to compare the different perceptions of stakeholders at Wesleyan Christian School (WCS) regarding a safe school climate. A needs assessment was conducted surveying the different stakeholders to assess the changes and improvements needed. The primary factor…

The qualitative study examined the mental health aspects of marginalized elementary school students in addition to constructing and implementing a culturally responsive and sustaining mindfulness program to observe if there were improvements regarding emotional regulation and awareness. To achieve this, I constructed a culturally responsive and…

This qualitative phenomenological study examines special education teachers' perspectives to understand how virtual learning environments can support, through social-emotional interactions, the cognitive development of students with low-incident disabilities in a homebound setting. For this study, which was based on Vygotsky's sociocultural theory…

Educators and researchers have been exploring alternative approaches to school discipline such as School-wide Positive Interventions and Supports (SW-PBIS) and Restorative Justice. While these programs and practices along have been determined to be effective in reducing instances of discipline disproportionality (McIntosh et. al., 2018; Stewart…