Effective implementation of the science of reading requires robust professional development. This Spotlight explores how districts, teacher-prep programs, and states are working to equip educators with the knowledge and skills needed. From training the trainers to sharing leadership insights on implementing the science of reading, these articles…

Drawing on three decades of research, this study explores the attitudes of middle school social studies teachers toward professional development in Western Tennessee. Social studies educators frequently navigate the repercussions of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, which has led to misguided incentives for states and districts to prioritize…

Despite the critical role of mentors in the preparation of preservice teachers, very little causal quantitative research has explored the effects of offering mentors professional development (PD) around how to coach and support their candidates. We conduct an experimental evaluation of a PD opportunity randomly offered to mentors within six…

A significant number of educators depart from the profession within their initial 5 years, particularly in urban and rural schools with a notable prevalence of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. This circumstance often presents school districts with the challenge of either hiring underqualified personnel or leaving instructional…

As K-12 computer science education mandates rapidly evolve across America, government officials, technology industry executives, and school leaders recognize such efforts' intellectual and economic importance. Specifically in Tennessee, a unanimous vote from the Tennessee General Assembly resulted in the passage of Chapter 979 of the Public Acts…

The problem addressed in this study was that teachers feel ill-equipped to handle students who have been impacted by trauma. The purpose of this study was to examine the teachers' experiences in implementing a trauma informed schools (TIS) approach to classroom management in rural Tennessee. The theoretical framework used is Bronfenbrenner's…

Educators and researchers often think of program design and program evaluation as separate endeavors, even intentionally creating a firewall between them. But what if designers and evaluators worked together, combining their insights to strengthen both the program and the study of it? In the work of evaluating a statewide professional learning…

This study sought to explore the teachers' self-efficacy on STEM integration and 21st century skills within STEM-designated schools in Tennessee by (a) evaluating teachers' self-efficacy, (b) teachers' perception of students' use of 21st century skills, (c) the association of teachers' self-efficacy and teachers' perception of students' use of…

Teachers need training in order to be adequately prepared to serve English Learners in the general education setting. The consideration of teacher perceptions becomes important when considering designing professional development for teachers of English Learners. The purpose of this study is to examine teachers' perceptions regarding educating…

In March 2020, emergency school closings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic initiated a sudden widespread use of virtual learning and brought new challenges that affected teaching and learning across multiple contexts. The complex change caused school district leaders to make plans to reinvent and reimagine schools and created a need for teacher…

This study tests the hypothesis that teacher-led collaborative inquiry cycles, guided by instructional standards, lead to improved teacher performance and effectiveness. We examine the impact of teachers' self-selection into teacher peer excellence groups (TPEGs), which involves lesson co-planning, peer observation and feedback, and collaborative…

The shortage of African American faculty employed at higher education institutions is prevalent at two-year community colleges across Tennessee. The problem addressed in this study is the lack of African American faculty employed at Tennessee Board of Regents institutions. This qualitative multiple-case study examined why there is a lack of…

This program focused on exploring science and mathematics content and pedagogy for elementary and middle grades, pre-service teachers, including those students preparing to teach in regular and exceptional education classrooms. A total of 31 individuals participated in one or more workshops. The activities contained within the Lego BricQ Motion…

Teaching with inquiry-based learning (IBL) can be used to increase high school students' science proficiency levels. Teachers must also be equipped and prepared to teach inquiry-based learning concepts. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate how prolonged professional development (PD) about IBL impacts science and agriscience teachers' intent to…

The problem addressed in this study was that most opportunities for professional learning in the field of education have been created and assigned without the teacher giving input through a needs assessment. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to understand the experiences of veteran K-5 teachers who participated in an online…