Teacher job satisfaction is important to retaining high-performing teachers. This study aims to investigate the effects of certain factors, such as age, gender, and years of experience, on overall job satisfaction. This study involved over 400 teachers from a West Tennessee school district, where the Job Satisfaction Survey was distributed. The…

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between teacher morale in relation to job satisfaction in a K-12 rural school district in West Tennessee using a quantitative correlational design. Data collection of 90 certified teachers included teacher survey results from the Purdue Teacher Opinionaire and the Basic Needs Satisfaction at Work…

This study aimed to identify the relationship between school climate, special education teacher job satisfaction, and intent to stay. The study participants included special education teachers from two middle Tennessee public school districts who serve students K-12. The study demonstrates the relationship between school climate and special…

In July 2022, the University of Tennessee and the Tennessee Geographic Alliance hosted a three-week summer institute funded by the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) as part of its "A More Perfect Union" initiative to promote a deeper understanding of United States history and culture. Eighteen K-12 educators from across the country…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to further the understanding on how access to trauma-informed professional learning changed research-based practices in classroom and school-wide settings in K-12 schools. The guiding question for this quantitative study was: How has trauma-informed professional learning influenced changes in…

Teacher performance scores inform education leaders' management of teacher human resources. However, prior research has implied that different interpretations of performance criteria between teachers and their evaluators suppress teacher development. Although research has examined teacher perceptions of performance scores and compared teacher…

This non-experimental, mixed methods study examined the relationships between school culture dimensions, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction within Tennessee K-12 public schools. The research identified if differences existed in perceived school culture dimensions and professional quality of life between teachers and administrators.…

Familiarity with local disability information and resources can impact the ways educators support students with disabilities and their families. We surveyed 462 educators regarding their awareness of and access to disability-related information and resources. Specifically, we examined (a) their familiarity with resources and services across…

Background: Teachers describe their colleagues as one of their most valuable resources (Drury & Baer, 2011; Johnston & Tsai, 2018). Teachers often report seeking out colleagues who teach the same grade or subject to get advice or to plan instruction together (Frank, 2009; Spillane et al., 2015). Given that research shows that professional…

Field experiences are regarded as the most effective way to prepare future teachers to be ready for the complexity and challenges found in the teaching profession (Phillion et al., 2005). Ill-prepared teachers may fail to gain fully from field experiences if they are not well prepared or do not value the activity as an out of class task (Hixon…

This paper presents the results of a nationwide survey of educators for grades 6-12 who specialize in family and consumer sciences education (N=380). The paper examines teacher reports about their self-efficacy in online learning during the switch to off-campus instruction. Data revealed that district communication to teachers indicating that they…

This study investigated the assessment literacy required for K-12 educators to interpret score reports from a K-12 English language proficiency assessment. The assessment in concern is ACCESS for ELLs, which is an annual summative assessment that is delivered to nearly 2 million English learners (ELs) across 39 US states and territories. This…

As interest in proactive and systematic approaches to supporting positive student behavior grows, important questions remain about the ways in which special education staff and their students participate in school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). We report findings from a statewide study of 849 special educators…

The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge and inclusion practices of music educators in the Southeastern United States, specifically in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Participants (N = 10,666) included K-12 general music, band, orchestra, and choir teachers. Participants were asked…

Current interest in teacher evaluation focuses disproportionately on measurement issues and performance-based pay without an overarching theory of how evaluation works. To develop such a theory, I contrast two motivation theories often used to guide thinking about teacher evaluation. External motivation theory relies on economics and extrinsic…