Although researchers agree that Alternative Education (AE) within the United States is an essential set of schools and programs that do things beyond traditional education, they do not agree on the purpose for these efforts. To understand how researchers can connect between existing perspectives and consider new ways that they can discuss success…

The concept of belonging is considered an essential need, and the impact of belonging has been studied by many. However, limited research has been conducted on the impact of belonging of those who work in schools, especially those who are the only individuals engaged in their role, known as Onlies. The purpose of this study was to gain an…

Purpose and Method of Study: The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative study was to examine the relationship between level of job satisfaction and perceived organizational support among nonexempt employees at East Central University. A stepwise multiple regression research design was used to investigate the association between the…

Rising youth suicide rates in the last several years have become an increasingly critical issue both nationwide and within the state of Utah. In a World Health Organization (2019) suicide report, it was found that an estimated 62,118 youths between the ages of 10 and 19 completed suicide in 2016, making suicide the second leading cause of death…

The experiences of Black women staff were at the forefront of this study as a way to create space for Black women by a Black woman. The experiences of staff and more specifically staff a color are often an afterthought (Cho & Brassfield, 2022) which has created some cultures of toxicity (Steele, 2018) and expected niceness (Liera, 2020). Black…

While the need for teachers is surging, the supply of teachers is decreasing, resulting in a pervasive teacher shortage (Carver-Thomas & Darling-Hammond, 2019; Sutcher, Darling-Hammond & Carver-Thomas, 2016). Teacher vacancies perpetuate the opportunity gap that already impacts students of color and low-income students across the country…

Minimal research has been focused on the role of school monitors in the public-school setting. This study explored the perspectives of school monitors on preparation, training, communication, and feedback. The study looked to examine if these aspects contribute to the overall role of school monitors and to identify specific areas where they…

This study explored the relationship between school employees' perceived relationship quality with their school principal and their organizational commitment when controlling for variables of age, gender, ethnicity, job position, and language diversity. The study reached 148 participants from the public school setting and collected data from a…

The implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) has been attributed to a decrease in office discipline referrals (ODRs) and suspensions and to increase academic performance, and engagement, as well as staff, family, and student perceptions of a safe and positive school climate. High schools have had more significant…

This dissertation discussed the impact of the North Carolina Tort Claims Act and the history of governmental immunity that has protected school districts and school employees in North Carolina. The research question addressed was: how have North Carolina state courts interpreted the North Carolina Tort Claims Act in litigation against North…

The number of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs; institutions of higher education that enroll 25% or more Hispanic/Latino students) in the United States continues to rise at a rapid rate every year. Yet, practitioners and scholars alike still seek ways to better understand the impact and value of an HSI organizational identity and how…

Research studies indicated that learning support professionals, which includes postsecondary developmental education professionals, often lacked opportunities for training to engage with the population of students they work with, as well as current instructional practices and/or reforms. While the research is expansive, it has focused on the…

Postsecondary Institutions are under pressure to explain their costs. Noninstructional administrative staff represent a significant cost and number of people working in higher education. Postsecondary institutions hire noninstructional staff in response to their specific needs related to educational activity at the institution. Past research on…

This phenomenological study explored how senior-level leaders foster psychological safety for employees at public higher education institutions in Texas. The participants in this study consisted of 10 current senior-level leaders who report directly to the president at a public university in Texas. Virtual semi-structured interviews were conducted…

As acts of violence in schools increase, schools are unprepared and in-equipped to prepare for targeted violence. This dissertation focuses on how professionals organizations are preparing educational leaders in threat assessment and how school personnel can reach out for support to community resources and agencies who specialize in threat…