This research focuses on the social pressures experienced by parents at schools identified as middle class across southern California. The literature review of school finances, the LCFF, funding levels, and studies stretches all the way back to the Coleman report. Within this vast body of prior research remained a void in the data. This missing…

This study, using a transcendental phenomenological approach, explored the perceptions and experiences of school counselor trainees participating in a self-care course grounded in mindfulness and social--emotional learning. Seven students who enrolled in a master's-level school counseling program and completed a summer self-care course shared…

California community college (CCC) counselors assist a diverse student population with academic achievement, career exploration, and mental health/crisis interventions while tasked with administrative duties such as programming, coordinating, and advising. In addition, they have instructional duties such as teaching classes, writing syllabi, and…

This study sought to understand motivations of individuals who offer unsolicited assistance to Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hikers. Referred to as "trail angels," these individuals provide supportive services (e.g., food, drink, transportation, and lodging) along the 2,650-mile footpath as it passes through California, Oregon, and…

This educational case study examines the efforts of one Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) to counter deficit narratives and provide institutional as well as interpersonal supports for Latinx student success through a Student Leadership Retreat. We consider these activities and students' experiences therein through the lenses of Latinx leadership…

Teachers and administrators support students to thrive as learners in their classrooms. But when students experience trauma or stress in their lives, educators may be faced with the additional challenge of supporting students to address extremely difficult social and emotional situations. This can lead to secondary traumatic stress--indirect…

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe Latina superintendents leading Title I school districts' perceived impact of the servant leadership constructs established by Patterson (2003) on establishing a culture of high performance. Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological study explored and described the…

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe the perceived impact of Patterson's (2003) 7 servant leadership constructs on high school principals in establishing a culture of high performance. Methodology: The qualitative phenomenological method was decided by 8 thematic researchers to study the high school…

Parents make choices about their children's education within a neoliberal, racist system. Measurable metrics are used to evaluate school quality within a competitive, market-based system, yet those indicators often do not align with parents' definitions of a good school, and they obscure the role of race. This paper examines how white, privileged…

Purpose. The purpose of this quantitative correlational research study was to examine whether a relationship exists between academic advisors' leadership style as servant leaders and student satisfaction with academic advising at a 4-year private nonprofit university in Southern California. Additionally, gender, race, and first-generation college…

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe the perceived impact of Patterson's (2003) 7 servant leadership constructs on high school principals in establishing a culture of high performance. Methodology: The qualitative phenomenological study described the lived experiences of high school principals who lead…

Many college students, especially first-generation and underrepresented racial/ethnic minority students, desire courses and careers that emphasize helping people and society. Can instructors of introductory science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses promote motivation, performance, and equity in STEM fields by emphasizing the…

Guided by the job demands--resources model and social-cognitive theory, we examined how educator perceived school connectedness and their attempts to connect with school members (i.e., administrators, staff, students, and families) concurrently and interactively influenced educators' compassion fatigue and online teaching self-efficacy during…

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of secondary traumatic stress (STS) among elementary teachers from Title I schools. This study sought to understand teachers' perceptions of STS and the personal, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence their impact. Methodology: This study…

Objective: Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to have psychological benefits in college students. We explored the effects of an academic Seminar on Compassion on student psychological health. Participants: Forty-one participants (14 male, 27 female, mean age 19.8 ± 1.4 years) were assessed pre- and post- spring semesters 2013 and…