The problem to be addressed in this quantitative study was the education system's failure to produce individuals with the necessary skills to fulfill high-wage, high-demand technical positions in the market. The study examined whether career counseling self-efficacy levels varied across different experiences, such as educational background, years…

This quantitative survey study aimed to identify differences between school counselors' and administrators' perceptions of the school counselors' role and if demographic criteria of years of experience, years in education, enrollment size, and grade level impacted these perceptions. Currently employed school counselors and administrators in…

This article describes some of the extraordinary accomplishments of the second cohort of states to participate in the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Financing Policy Project (IECMH-FPP). The purpose of the IECMHFPP is to support states' advancement of IECMH assessment, diagnosis, and treatment policies that will contribute to the healthy…

School leaders, specifically principals, play a pivotal role in shaping student learning outcomes. The benefits of strong leaders extend beyond academic achievement, such as reductions in absenteeism and exclusionary discipline. While quality principals are critical for creating and sustaining quality schools, the staffing pipeline is facing…

This narrative study explored the administrative internship experiences of five assistant principals in Alabama for the purpose of better understanding how these school leaders perceived the benefits of Alabama's policy requirement for field experience in their practice. Attention towards this comparatively brief ten-day internship sought to…

This quantitative survey study aimed to identify differences between the perception of the role of school counselors of both administrators and school counselors and if the demographic criteria of years of experience, years in education, enrollment size, and grade level impacted these perceptions. Currently employed school counselors and…

The purpose of this study was to explore police chiefs' perceptions regarding the impact of criminal justice degree education on developing leadership skills in law enforcement officers. Specifically, the research highlighted how completing a four-year program in criminal justice cultivates critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and…

Continued professional learning and development of school leaders is a way to improve schools and promote positive organizational change (Andreoli et al., 2020; Kim, 2020; Rieckhoff & Larsen, 2012) as well as and a way to support sustainability in a profession with high rates of turnover (Levin et al., 2020). Although principals and…

Among all in-school factors that impact student learning, teachers carry the most weight -- but school leaders are not far behind. Decades of research have proven the positive influence principals can have on student achievement, school climate and teaching quality. New evidence suggests that their impact may be even greater than previously…

The twofold purpose of the study was to (1) identify selected personal and professional characteristics of sitting African American female superintendents in the five Gulf Coast states, and (2) identify perceptions held by sitting African American female superintendents in the five Gulf Coast states related to the importance of selected factors as…

In this study, the researchers examined the culture and climate of selected middle and high schools in Alabama's River Region. Teachers and administrators from nine middle and eleven high schools completed two electronic surveys: (a) the School Culture Survey (SCS) and (b) the Organizational Climate Description Questionnaires (OCDQ-RM/OCDQ-RS).…

A leadership academy is a formal professional learning opportunity for current school leaders, focused on augmenting knowledge and skills, increasing specialization, and refreshing leadership practices. States interested in supporting leadership academies through federal or other funding sources can look to current models of leadership academies…

This study investigated the mentoring experiences of novice principals in rural Alabama. Novice principals were defined as principals in probationary status, which in Alabama involves the first three years in this position. The focus of this research was on gaining an in-depth understanding of the mentoring relationships and experiences of these…

"Opening Doors, Changing Futures" tells the story of the collective impact the Appalachian Higher Education (AHE) Network had on postsecondary education attainment in 10 of the 13 states in Appalachia during school years 2011-2016. It depicts the current economic and education contexts in the region and highlights why increased post-high…

This study sought to determine if a relationship exists among high school counselors' specific demographics, the educational experiences (i.e., professional development, training, and other coursework) of public high school counselors, the factors that influence public high school counselors to advise college-bound students to enroll in career and…