This study provides a timely, qualitative exploration of the perceived efficacy of cultural competency training for both law enforcement officers and educators. It comprises 18 semi-structured interviews, 10 of which were conducted with education professionals and 8 with law enforcement officers. Drawing four main themes from the interview sample,…

This study provides a timely, qualitative exploration of the perceived efficacy of cultural competency training for both law enforcement officers and educators. It comprises 18 semi-structured interviews, 10 of which were conducted with education professionals and 8 with law enforcement officers. Drawing four main themes from the interview sample,…

Despite the 1982 Supreme Court decision "Plyler v. Doe," little guidance has been provided on how to support undocumented students. Although education scholars have explored undocumented students' experiences, little research examines the effects of professional development on pre-service school professionals' understanding regarding…

The current study presents results of a quantitative analysis of K-12 school counselors' perceptions on and preparedness for college and career readiness counseling in a large urban school district serving a diverse, low-income student population. We highlight differences between K-8 and high school counselors' perceptions related to preparedness,…

Purupose/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify and prioritize the training needs of state agency staff and determine preferences for training formats, delivery methods, length of training, and best time of year to deliver training. Methods: A rigorous 3-phase data collection approach was used. A draft survey was developed in Phase…

A simulation is a powerful tool for having an experience in a controlled and safe environment. In education, it has been used within simulation centers. The current study examined the effect of simulations on the professional self-efficacy of school principals in training. Twenty-two master of education students were asked to fill out the…

The Region 5 Comprehensive Center worked in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education to develop a professional learning framework and toolkit. Although they were developed to meet the needs of education staff in Tennessee, the guidance can benefit other state education stakeholders in their efforts to ensure all professional learning…

Following the recent developments in information and communication technologies (ICT), educators cannot opt-out using technology in educational settings. Yet, research studies have indicated that teachers' lack of ICT knowledge is considered among the barriers for successful technology integration. Within this framework, this study aimed at…

Peer evaluation skills are not typically taught to students, yet they are expected to provide high-quality feedback to their peers. Gameful learning, a pedagogy supporting student-driven learning, can further reinforce the development of peer evaluation skills, if students are motivated to improve upon them. To better understand the effects of a…

In 2016, Access Services staff attended a professional development course on process improvement offered at Kennesaw State University. Process improvement initiatives have been credited with devising more effective, streamlined practices by identifying and eliminating non-value-added work. The Head of Access Services adapted content from the…

Higher education institutions prepare future faculty members for multiple roles, including teaching. However, teaching professional development programs for graduate students vary widely. We present evaluation data from a high engagement program for STEM doctoral students. We analyzed the impact on three cohorts of participants over three academic…

Whether they are in a leadership program, participate in an organization, or engage in school-based extra-curricular activities, there does not appear to be a shortage of leadership development opportunities for youth. Despite the prominence of these experiences, the lack of youth leadership development models available for educators can pose a…

Extension educators are frequently tasked with strengthening organizations they collaborate with or provide education to. When a county government in Wisconsin experienced significant personnel changes in a span of less than 18 months, department heads contacted Extension to request professional development and team-building education for their…

The nature of academic librarianship is changing as librarians move away from the curation of material and into research support roles. Although this creates new opportunities it can be difficult for staff to learn the skills needed. The Office of Scholarly Communication at Cambridge University seeks to address this issue with the Research Support…

This dissertation is a case study of a professional development effort in a large urban school district over the course of one school year. With their district identified for improvement under the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 2001, district leaders were under pressure take corrective action. As part of their plan…