Two trends have increased the importance of cross-boundary teaming in schools. School educators face more interdisciplinary tasks and problems. They are also further required to include diverse voices derived from students' greater demographic diversity toward creating culturally inclusive school education. In light of this, cross-boundary…

This dissertation discusses the gestures produced by students as they learn about the inorganic chemistry topic of symmetry and group theory. Also included is an overview of the development and implementation of a symmetry and group theory laboratory activity, as well as an investigation seeking to promote gestural mimicry and uncover design…

Collaborative Video Viewing (CVV) transforms passive video-based learning into an engaging, active process. While collaborative modes have different affordances that could potentially influence knowledge co-construction, no study has directly assessed the impact of collaborative modes in CVV activities. Therefore, this current study seeks to…

Within this dissertation, I use design-based research along with discourse and interaction analysis to study classroom groups of mathematical learners to better understand and design for group structures and cultures that support students' learning mathematics and becoming mathematical communities. Specifically, I focus on the phenomenon of groups…

This dissertation delved into the complex interaction between gender dynamics and leadership perceptions within outdoor recreation, particularly in the context of higher education. Utilizing Transformational Learning Theory, Critical Feminist Theory, and Conditional Outdoor Leadership Theory, this study aimed to uncover the nuanced ways in which…

While counselors do gain knowledge on advocacy in their educational program, little is known about how school counselors communicate and advocate in their relationships with principals. The purpose of this study was to seek clarity on how school counselors describe their experience in their relationships with school principals as they communicate…

Despite the number of students and the growing diversity of the students served by rural districts, a lack of research exists on rural district systems to support the continuous improvement of schools. The lack of understanding around systems for rural district improvement stands to exacerbate long-standing inequities for rural communities. Using…

This study explored the experiences of school counselors utilizing peer-group supervision to assist in analyzing data to determine the effectiveness of interventions. The literature gap indicates that further research was needed regarding the relationship between appropriate supervision and its impact on school counselors' ability to analyze data.…

The recent reforms in science education envision engaging students in authentic practices of science and habits of mind (NRC, 2012); in other words, engaging students in "doing science." Science is a multidimensional endeavor (Davidson, Jaber, & Southerland, 2020; Pickering, 1995). The work of the scientists include various…

The ever-changing role of public-school principals is complex and overwhelming. Because instructional leadership impacts teaching practices and student achievement, this important principal role should be cultivated with principals having sufficient time to engage as instructional leaders. A generic qualitative inquiry methodology was used to…

The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of Muslim professionals in U.S. workplaces with varying levels of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. The research, conducted through a basic qualitative approach with twenty participants, delved into the personal and professional narratives of these…

Despite federal regulations around making determinations about special education eligibility, the system is vulnerable to biases influencing decision making. The present study investigated the impact of bias on special education eligibility decision making. The research questions ascertained whether manipulation of a single piece of information in…

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between Marsick and Watkins' (2003) dimensions of a learning organization, Bandura's (1977, 1986) collective and self-efficacy, and teacher level of effectiveness (LOE) in a Rural Tennessee School District (RTSD). School districts invest significant amounts of time and resources to…

Discipline inequities across racial, gender, and socioeconomic barriers are a constant in the United States, persisting long after the desegregation of schools in the last century. School divisions and schools across the United States have implemented restorative justice as an alternative to traditional punitive discipline as a potential remedy…

Problem behavior during hallway transitions are likely for several reasons: (a) students are in closer proximity of each other, (b) teacher monitoring of students is more difficult and/or (c) there are fewer competing behavior options that have been reinforced (Myerson & Hale, 1984). The current study compared the effects of small- and…