The three articles included in this dissertation are connected through theory and practice. Study one identifies the factors influencing Extension agents' participation in supplemental professional development opportunities using Ajzen's (1985) theory of planned behavior. Study two was a systematic investigation of Extension personnel's…

This study investigates the significance of integrating social-emotional learning (SEL) into school environments, a trend that has gained momentum over the past four decades. Recognizing that students' social and emotional competencies profoundly affect their academic success, educators are increasingly prioritizing the cultivation of skills such…

Pre-apprenticeship programs are a very effective tool to help youth and adults enter a Registered Apprenticeship program. Participants can also use the experience to pursue further training or enter the workforce. The pre-apprenticeship is designed to help youth or adults take a snapshot of their current skills and use that data to address gaps in…

This study examines the relationship between Individualized Education Program (IEP) goal content and quality and the education outcomes for students in elementary school with complex support needs (CSN) in Utah, focusing on grades three through six. The investigation explores whether the alignment of IEP goals with alternate state standards and…

This Educational Leadership Portfolio (ELP) addresses the information needs of the staff involved with the Delaware Academy for School Leadership (DASL) Principal Preparation Program (PPP). As a program that prepares and certifies school principals in the State of Delaware, DASL staff sought to understand the extent and ways in which they are…

Public schools follow school improvement guidelines to improve outcomes for students. This study utilized a quantitative method with a correlational design to discern any relationship between the NCStar School Improvement Program Indicators and student proficiency scores. The population for the study was 636 public high schools implementing the…

In 2018, the United States Congress passed the "Strengthening of Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act." This legislation included the requirement to conduct a comprehensive local needs assessment, which must include input from community stakeholders. This project designed and evaluated a three-step process that…

With the establishment of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, communities have depended on Extension Agents to address relevant needs. Extension Agents have used different approaches such as the Texas Community Futures Forum to obtain information on issues affecting people. The problem was that Texas Community Futures Forums have never…

This mixed methods program evaluation evaluated the implementation of the multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework in one North Carolina school district. It examined the perceived teacher impact of the program implementation for Tier 3 reading students in first through third grades. The vision for employing the MTSS framework in North…

Current methods to address the shortage of certified orientation and mobility specialists have either not been successful or have not kept up with the needs of students with visual impairments. This study explored the potential of an alternative method of addressing the shortage and gaps in education that it causes: training paraprofessionals to…

Over the last decade, the number of SWIDs interested in postsecondary opportunities has increased. This is partially in response to the HEOA of 2008, which opened the door to more educational opportunities and supports for SWIDs; SWIDs can now consider college an option, not just a dream. As a result, the demand for new programs continues to grow…

Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, I implemented the strategies within this Educational Leadership Portfolio with the support of my SEL leadership team in my effort to improve adult understanding of social-emotional learning (SEL) in the elementary school setting. Research shows that not much attention has been given to SEL in pre-service and…

Black male community college students are underperforming at all levels within higher education compared to their counterparts from all major racial groups in the nation. Reasons for the declining academic performance of Black male community college students include institutional racism, lack of role models, and student isolation. Black male…

Purpose and Method of Study: The purpose of this study was to explore the process of change of a local church ministry training program pursuing an additional location of Oral Roberts University. The program evaluation consisted of a needs and assets assessment, followed by qualitative interviews that informed a quantitative survey. An exploratory…

Mental health concerns on college campuses are at an all-time high. Within the student-athlete population, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) reported suicide as the third leading cause of death (Ching, 2018). Furthermore, in a survey conducted by the NCAA of more than 37,000 student-athletes during the month of April 2020, 50% of…