This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of teachers with respect to the professional development received on culturally responsive teaching and their perspectives on the influence this professional learning has had on teacher pedagogical development and student performance. The 30 licensed teachers in Massachusetts…

Building community is essential to achieving optimal learning conditions. Failure to build community in online courses is linked to higher drop-out rates, feelings of isolation, and lower academic success rate (Adams & Wilson, 2020). Although there is research on building a sense of community in online course settings, much of this work has…

This dissertation explores the experiences of teachers during a proposed school closure and examines the role of administrative communication in navigating this challenging situation. By employing qualitative research methods, including surveys, the study investigates the nature of communication between teachers and administrators at the school.…

In this dissertation, I explore the ways in which childhood is represented in three Korean American narratives for youths: An Na's "the Fold," Lyla Lee "I'll Be the One," and Tae Keller's "When You Trap a Tiger"--to theorize the concept of "Otherhood," that is, a childhood in which the experience of being…

This qualitative study explored the impact of coaching secondary social studies teachers in culturally responsive teaching (CRT) on their ability to foster belonging within urban classrooms in the southwestern United States. Prior research highlights the importance of belonging for all students, particularly marginalized populations. While CRT…

Higher education institutions in the United States continue to explore ways in which they can improve student outcomes and continue the dissemination of knowledge while concurrently managing increased budget pressures, enrolment challenges, evolving stakeholder demands, shifts in technology, and wider societal headwinds. One option which they have…

Graduate students are an often-overlooked student population in a traditional undergraduate institution, but these students provide significant enhancement to the culture of a college or university. This study investigated how instructional modalities and other critical factors impact graduate student experience and sense of belonging.…

Place-based educators recognize the importance of place in shaping learning, as our sense of place serves as a lens through which we interpret our experiences. Despite the growing prevalence of online environments in education, their impact on our sense of place remains largely unexplored. This case study employed critical case sampling to explore…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive single case study was to understand how college instructors across a variety of discipline areas described the development of their instructional strategies to embed sense of community and cognitive presence in a blended class environment at a university in the Midwest United States. The Community of…

Juvenile justice education (JJE) plays a critical role in supporting adjudicated youth, yet systemic challenges often disrupt educational experiences, leaving students' unique needs unmet. The problem addressed in this study is that the predominantly minoritized student population in juvenile justice settings faces marginalization due to factors…

Public higher education institutions (HEIs) are responsible for ensuring that all students achieve their educational goals with respect and dignity. Faculty cultural competency preparedness is an essential professional development measure that HEI leaders can take to provide ongoing support to faculty not representative of the student demographic…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine (1) the relationship between teachers' perceived cultural competence and the perceived implementation of culturally responsive Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) practices, conditional on teachers' race, and (2) the relationship between teachers' perceived implementation of culturally responsive…

Fanfiction is a valid form of literacy expression often overlooked in academic settings. This study used a mixed-methods approach to understand the facets of fanfiction reading and writing in adults. Survey data was first collected to understand who are the adults choosing to read and write fanfiction. Based on survey results, individual cases…

This study aimed to address research gaps and disparities among adult Vietnamese English as a second language (ESL) learners in adult education due to the model minority myth and broad generalization of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population. Despite their aspirations for an improved quality of life and integration into the U.S.…

In secondary ensembles, teachers navigate the demanding balance of developing music literacy skills while preparing for concerts. This challenge intensifies in online learning environments due to limited opportunities for instant feedback, ensemble synchronization, and fostering a sense of community. The problem was the lack of understanding of…