Centered on the theories of Carol Dweck (2006) and James Burns (1978), an expanding theory case study approach was used to analyze how growth mindset and transformational leadership influence instructional decisions made specifically for economically disadvantaged students. In addition, analysis of how leaders perceive these decisions to have…

The purpose of this study was to examine teachers' perspectives on the intent and purpose of grading, the effectiveness of grading systems, and how large, complex systems can implement effective change. The design of the study was qualitative, based on an anonymous survey mixed with open-ended and Likert Scale questions. The participants in this…

School social workers provide mental health services to millions of students each year. However, few studies focus on how social workers generate funding and other support for school mental health. The purpose of this study is to identify the continuum of school mental health supports and how social workers advocate for and generate these…

This study was designed to investigate the decision-making processes involved with deciding the funding and framing of music programs in three suburban school districts in the New York metropolitan area. School leaders were interviewed to understand the factors associated with the decision-making process. The findings helped to understand…

Using qualitative research methods, this phenomenological study examined the impact of instructional coaching on teachers' perceptions of teacher self-efficacy, stress and anxiety, and instruction. Kindergarten, first, and second grade classroom teachers from a small suburban school district who worked with an instructional coach in a coaching…

This research study examined student perceptions of advisement experiences with a primary role advisor in a centralized advising office. The intent was to explore the connection between academic advising and student connectedness to the institution. This study utilized Tinto's theory of student departure to provide an understanding of how student…

With the visceral response to instances of police brutality and use of excessive force, a resurgence of considerable racial unrest and a heightened awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement in the media makes this study timely in recognizing racial injustice and the need for cultural competency in the stronghold of education. The United States…

Exclusionary discipline practices (EDPs), including suspensions and expulsions, are used in public schools, from kindergarten to 12th grade (K-12). Excessive use of EDP can have a negative impact as students face delays in completion of their academic work. The problem of increasing use of EDPs at a suburban public school district located in a…

Suburban school districts have experienced a racial and ethnic shift within the past 10 years. School districts that once were predominantly White have pivoted to a more diverse demographic. While we have seen the shifting of student demographics the same has not manifested within school leadership. This critical qualitative study sought to…

This qualitative study examines the experiences of Latinx youth and mainly white staff of the Academic Scholars Program, a college access program that operated in an affluent suburban high school. Guided by Critical Race Theory and Critical Whiteness Studies, the findings highlight the constraints Latinx youth and staff faced and how they resisted…

Intrinsic motivation is a crucial factor for students' learning and academic achievement and the initial drive for capturing students' interest in learning and engagement in a particular subject. There is a relationship between motivation and learning in traditional schools (Brophy, 2010; Schunk et al., 2014); however, despite the fact that…

An integral part of true formative assessment is what teachers and students do after taking an assessment to improve student understanding of the topic. However, there are no research-based best practices for what types of activities work best in this intervention phase of formative assessment for the secondary social studies classroom. This…

The importance of establishing positive relationships is a common theme in educational philosophies and recommended practice. Educators inherently believe this to be true. It is assumed relationships are the key to academic and behavioral success, as well as students' social emotional well-being. Furthermore, relationships may even be the key to…

This phenomenological research study explores how districts in Massachusetts support and hinder the work of professionals in the inaugural role of Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I). Through a qualitative approach, the study engaged six Directors of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from suburban and urban school settings in…

Career and Technical Education (CTE) exists for those students who want to enter the world of work sooner rather than later; who wish to learn from teachers who are experts in their field, whether in class settings and internships and/or apprenticeships. CTE practitioners in suburban settings, whether they are teachers or administrators, have not…