This phenomenological case study explores the perceptions of high school administrators who have implemented Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) at the universal tier with fidelity. For this study, perceptions refer to the views and experiences of administrators implementing SWPBIS on the success and growth they have…

4-H provides meaningful opportunities for all youth by connecting them with caring adult mentors and programs to develop relevant life skills to make changes in their own lives and communities. As the opportunity gap widens for youth and their needs change, the goal is that the 4-H system's 3,500 professionals and 500,000 volunteers will be…

This study investigated the effects of interdependent group contingencies (IGCs) on teacher behavior in high school classrooms. Interdependent group contingencies, rooted in the principles of applied behavior analysis, have demonstrated to be effective in managing student behaviors. However, their impact on teacher behavior has remained…

The purpose of this quantitative correlational-predictive study was to determine if, and to what extent, self-talk (self-reinforcing, self-managing, combined and individually) predicts academic burnout for undergraduate students in the Southwest region of the United States. The triadic model of self-regulated learning and job demands-resource…

Significant adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact health, socialization, academics, engagement in education, and behavior outcomes in elementary students. ACE researchers have identified protective factors, which mitigate the deleterious effects of significant ACEs. One of those protective factors is the positive teacher-student teacher…

Challenging student behavior can have detrimental effects on both students and staff. These effects do not only include students' diminished rates of on-task behavior and low-grade performance, but managing behavior can result in elevated levels of psychological distress and burnout, which places education workers at risk of experiencing…

This dissertation investigates the influence of interventions on the behavior outcomes of alternative education students in the Midwest United States, addressing the gap in literature regarding the implementation of School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) in alternative education settings. Grounded in B.F. Skinner's…

Professional development (PD) plays a critical role in supporting teacher quality and retention, ultimately affecting student achievement. The pandemic has altered the traditional educational landscape for teachers, making effective PD essential. This qualitative study sought to explore an impact team model (ITM) of PD as an effective form of PD,…

This study utilized a basic interpretive design to explore the experiences of parents/guardians who enrolled their children in the Build Our Kids for Success Program (BOKS) and autoethnography to explore the experiences of the researcher while implementing the BOKS program. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 individuals representing 13…

For decades, evaluators have noted that it is difficult for stakeholders to accept negative evaluation results (Carter, 1971; Taut & Brauns, 2003). There is a need for additional research on evaluation to better understand when and why stakeholders reject negative or critical evaluation findings. Drawing on social identity theory (SIT), the…

Since the survey in 2015 conducted by the American Federation of Teachers about teacher mental health and well-being, teachers have been reporting higher rates of job-related stress. They have indicated that this stress often comes from poor administrative interactions, negative teacher perceptions, state mandates, staff shortages,…

This dissertation tested the control-value theory of achievement emotions (CVTAE) in an instructional communication context. Based on the assumptions of CVTAE, the researcher predicted that when instructors were clearer, students would feel more confident in their abilities to perform well in their class and, in turn, experience positive…

In this dissertation, I seek to understand whether and how values affirmation could have an impact on the academic performance and psychological well-being of deaf students in secondary deaf schools in Nepal. In Paper 1, I reported findings from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the impact of values affirmation on the academic performance and…

Behavior-specific praise is an evidenced-based and effective classroom and behavior management strategy. Despite the effectiveness of behavior-specific praise, low rates of classroom implementation and expressed needs for additional professional learning on classroom and behavior management strategies persist. School leaders can use existing staff…

This study explored the relationships between perceived administrative support, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment as experienced by elementary teachers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 elementary school teachers to gain insight through their perspectives of the lived experiences of administrator support and how it…