The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental, nonequivalent comparison-group design was to determine if "How to Learn Math: for Students" (Boaler, 2018) had a statistically significant influence on eighth-grade students' mathematical anxiety and mathematical achievement. Participants included eighth-grade students (n = 28) in a…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how mid-career elementary school principals in the suburbs of Philadelphia experience their interactions with parents who participate in social networking as a form of school engagement. Analysis of the accounts of the lived experiences of 11 elementary school principals…

Over the past twenty years, a shifting demographic in schools has created the need to view and lead them through a culturally proficient and equitable lens. School leaders, however, remain short-changed on the preparation time needed to address important issues that surpass the narrow lens of content and instruction. This study used a qualitative…

This instrumental mixed methods case study investigated Grades 3-5 classroom teachers' perceptions of teaching for creativity and the effects of a researcher-developed, one-day, online professional development creativity module intervention within a suburban school district in south-central Pennsylvania. Creativity has been identified as a…

The purpose of this quantitative comparative study was to explore kindergarten teachers' perceptions of student readiness. The factors that impacted readiness when students entered kindergarten had not been clearly and consistently identified. The study extended research on factors associated with kindergarten student readiness and included…

In four years of high school education some students do not achieve the appropriate number of credits to receive a diploma. To support over-age, under-credited students, each high school has to intervene. Schools need to find ways to help students receive the credits needed, allow students to go beyond four years to graduate, or drop out of high…

In 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) enacted a new law called Act 44, which provided new form of funding for school safety in school districts across the State of Pennsylvania. The study focused on how school superintendents and high school principals prioritized each category in Pennsylvania Act 44 from highest to the lowest…

This dissertation examined the differences in school board activities between high-achieving and low-achieving districts across urban, suburban, and rural settings in Pennsylvania. The focus was on understanding the disparities in official behaviors contributing to academic outcomes. This study addressed a critical gap in educational governance…

This qualitative case study explored the perceptions of hiring administrators in a suburban Pennsylvania school district regarding the influence of the Danielson Framework for Teaching (DFT) on the district teacher hiring practices. At the time of this study, research had shown that, out of all other factors, teachers had the largest influence on…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how teachers of kindergarten through second grade describe students' socialization opportunities during online learning and the supports needed for effective fostering of socialization during online learning in southeastern Pennsylvania. The theoretical foundation for this research…

Researchers have looked at the role the teacher plays for mediating emotional regulation (ER) in students, but it is understudied at the elementary level. Knowing that emotional regulation skills develop rapidly in a child's early years there was a need to explore teacher perceptions of ER skills in K-4 students. This qualitative case study…

The position of a school building administrator is overwhelming with multiple responsibilities, long hours, and job pressures. Due to these factors, there is a negative impact on mental health and a high rate of burnout for administrators. This study reviews the factors that contribute to negative mental health and administrator burnout, and…

Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) is an autoimmune disorder associated with sudden onset of behavior changes. The prevalence of PANDAS is increasing in schools and interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge, and the use of referrals to the school nurse are important for supporting…

Successful social and emotional learning (SEL) programs have established methods with teacher and peer support that improve prosocial behavior. Research has shown intervention programs that incorporate these skills reduce antisocial behaviors, but implementation in schools may vary and therefore affect outcomes. The purpose of this…

This qualitative research study explored how principal efficacy influences the implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). At the time of this study, the majority of literature focused on efficacy in MTSS focused on the teacher and minimal literature focused on the principal efficacy. Research has explored in-depth the principal as…