Measuring teacher effectiveness has been debated and studied for numerous years. While some progress has been made, consensus has yet to be reached regarding what it means to be an effective teacher and how to measure effectiveness. This study uses administrative data from North Carolina to assess the relationship between school principal…

Despite decades of research and many frameworks designed to address the inequities and exclusion in the public school system, large achievement gaps, inequitable systems, and exclusive policies exist. The scholar-practitioner believes instructional coaches are well-positioned to address the inequities and exclusion that exist in the public school…

Teachers today feel pressure to maximize student engagement and learning. With an increased focus on student scores on end of grade test measures and their association with school performance grades, educators are forced to consider how to yield results. Limiting the disruptions and distractions throughout the school day shifts the focus to…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how health and relationship education teachers describe their teaching experiences with students learned cultural narratives and personal experiences while teaching health and relationship education in the public school classroom. The two main research questions were: RQ1: How do…

Do white teachers learn racial competency from their Black peers? We answer this question using a mixed-methods approach. Longitudinal administrative data from North Carolina show that having a Black same-grade peer significantly improves the achievement and reduces the suspension rates of white teachers' Black students. Open-ended interviews of…

Improving teacher selection is an important strategy for strengthening the quality of the teacher workforce. As districts adopt commercial teacher screening tools, evidence is needed to understand these tools' predictive validity. We examine the relationship between Frontline Education's TeacherFit instrument and newly hired teachers' outcomes. We…

There are many rewards associated with teaching in public schools, but there are also several challenges such as understaffing, limited resources, overcrowded classrooms, and underpaid employees. All of these issues combined often lead to burnout and mental health concerns among public school teachers, particularly those in urban settings. Since…

This dissertation concerns the experiences of international teachers working in North Carolina public schools. As I began exploring this unique population's literature, I realized my limited knowledge about their personal and pedagogical acclimation to American schools. School districts across the nation struggle to locate, recruit, and retain…

Improving teacher selection is an important strategy for strengthening the quality of the teacher workforce. As districts adopt commercial teacher screening tools, evidence is needed to understand these tools' predictive validity. We examine the relationship between Frontline Education's TeacherFit instrument and newly hired teachers' outcomes. We…

In this study, I used a qualitative methodology to investigate the experiences of long-serving Black teachers in American public schools, illuminating their ongoing dedication to the field despite many institutional challenges. Through interviews with these long-serving educators, the study aimed to answer the research question: "What were…

This guide aims to present district instructional leaders and staff with a core set of criteria for what high-quality professional development entails. What makes this particular document different and useful is the focus on practical issues of district-level implementation in multiple teaching and learning environments. This is a guide designed…

In the present study I use teacher value added and evaluation rating data from North Carolina public schools to estimate the signaling and human capital effects of graduate degrees. These analyses consider the effects of graduate degrees, overall, and the effects of graduate degrees inside and outside teachers' area(s) of teaching. Signaling…

Growing educational research shows that teachers of color are finding themselves working in racially hostile schools, experiencing racism from their white colleagues in explicit and inexplicit ways. There is a need to further categorize how North Carolina teachers of color are experiencing racism in the workplace and identify how they are affected…

This mixed-methods study addressed the generational differences in intrinsic and extrinsic motivation among elementary teachers in North Carolina. Intrinsic motivation to persist in the profession was examined through the lens of Pink's theory that autonomy, mastery, and purpose determine a person's degree of intrinsic motivation. Information…

Across the country, effort is underway to restrict discussion, learning, and student support related to race and gender/sexual identity in educational settings, targeting schools with state legislation and politicians' orders; national conservative media and organizations; Board directives; and local actors wielding media-fueled talking points. To…