This quantitative study was conducted to determine (a) if there was a difference in collective teacher efficacy beliefs of teachers who taught in high-performing schools and low-performing schools and (b) which enabling condition fostering those beliefs had the most significant impact. Data was acquired from teachers regarding their perceptions of…

This autoethnography traces the ten-year journey of one teacher's interest in and exploration of the experiences in English classes of high-achieving quiet students. Named Quiet Intellects (QIs), these students rarely or do not speak during the many district- and curricula-mandated evaluative tasks in my district that demand their oral…

The purpose of this action research study was to assist students coping with the pressures of attending a high achieving school by devising and implementing a seven-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) to raise overall student well-being. Additionally, it was hoped that the students would use the mindfulness techniques as positive coping…

Through the years, the role of the school principal has shifted from managerial to an instructional focus, which required additional skills, strategies, oversight, and flexibility. Assuming the role of instructional leader challenged principals to ensure students achieve at high levels. Legislation over the years added to the high expectations…

In Paper #1, I investigate the career exploration processes of 96 recent graduates of elite higher education institutions with varying levels of interest and commitment to teaching. My aim is to understand how intrinsic motivations to teach (positive) and extrinsic concerns about teaching (negative) are developed and interact such that some…

This dissertation aims to find a correlation between collective teacher efficacy (CTE) and student achievement. Through a quantitative study, the researcher collected data from teachers in high- performing, low socioeconomic elementary schools, specifically those identified as Title I Distinguished Schools in a state in the southeastern region of…

The transition from college to post-college opportunities presented significant challenges for at-promise Black students, hindered by unique obstacles impacting their readiness for graduate school and careers (Thomas, 2017; Purnell & Wade, 2019). National Center for Education Statistics (2019) data underscored low graduation rates among Black…

Teacher retention remains an issue nationally (Ingersoll & Tran, 2023). CCSD, a high-achieving school district in Tennessee, sought factors influencing teacher retention locally. This mixed-methods study examined differences in retention rates of teachers in CCSD and used interview and survey data to better understand factors related to…

Teacher retention remains an issue nationally (Ingersoll & Tran, 2023). CCSD, a high-achieving school district in Tennessee, sought factors influencing teacher retention locally. This mixed-methods study examined differences in retention rates of teachers in CCSD and used interview and survey data to better understand factors related to…

Teacher retention remains an issue nationally (Ingersoll & Tran, 2023). CCSD, a high-achieving school district in Tennessee, sought factors influencing teacher retention locally. This mixed-methods study examined differences in retention rates of teachers in CCSD and used interview and survey data to better understand factors related to…

Since the advent of the standardized movement in education, there has been a plethora of research pertaining to the characteristics of successful schools. Even more so, studies have consistently been trying to investigate if there is a proverbial gold standard of what encompasses successful school improvement in low-income communities serving…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe the strategies teachers chose to successfully differentiate for high achieving upper elementary mathematics students. The context of the study was mixed ability classes in international schools. The study used Vygotsky's sociocultural learning theory as a theoretical framework to…

The purpose of this study was to explore how high-achieving first-generation college students perceived their mentoring experiences at a public research university in the midsouth and examined what role mentoring played in their persistence. Using the narrative inquiry, the study captured mentoring perceptions and experiences of 13 high-achieving…

This study is part of a larger qualitative research study being conducted by a research team in order to understand the experience of stress and the factors that maintain it within a high achieving American high school community. 30 stakeholders (including students, parents, teachers, support staff, and administration) in a high achieving high…

Principals' roles have been transformed from solely managerial and now include instructional leadership. Principals were formerly responsible for hiring teachers, communicating the vision and mission for the school, and overseeing the daily operations. Currently, the primary focus of school principals is student achievement for all students. The…