This dissertation engages a multi-step process to identify and articulate the internally defined goals of prominent holistic pedagogies including Montessori, Waldorf, Democratic Free Schooling, homeschooling, and radical/progressive education. It gives voice to adult former students who speak to, and illustrate, the ways in which they were…

In this qualitative multiple-case study, three teachers' understanding of holistic education philosophy was explored through their enacted instructional practices in mathematics classrooms in a holistic school in India. Drawing upon the ethnographic methodology, the data collected include interviews and conversations, classroom observations, and…

The purpose of this self-study was to examine my enactment of 3S Understanding, a holistic, democratic and inquiry-based curriculum theory, in a university-based, English-to-speakers-of-other-languages (ESOL) writing course grounded in Subject Learning, Self Learning, and Social Learning. Through disciplined reflective inquiry and collaboration…

In the spring of 2020, the global pandemic of COVID-19 resulted in the rapid transition from traditional in-person PreK-12 instruction to emergency remote learning. As educators continue to operate in a post-pandemic era, they engage in multiple variations of remote learning without the training or guidance to consistently achieve positive…

The sustainability of the educational system is under threat, with teacher stress leading to high attrition. This dissertation advocates for a holistic development framework that nurtures teacher well-being, essential for sustaining effective learning environments. This study contributes to educational strategies that promote teacher resilience…

Teacher agency has been a burgeoning topic of research in education and music education. In education research, professional agency has been associated with the influence of policy, teacher demographics, teacher beliefs, professional developments, and teaching environments. In music education, music teacher professional agency is a music teacher's…

In this era of increased accountability education leaders must respond to the political calls for academic performance with the legal ramifications of IDEA policy implementation within a student's least restrictive environment. This action research study sought to answer how a school system identifies a student's least restrictive environment.…

This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) sought to answer the question: How do skilled martial arts practitioners with advanced academic degrees interpret the role of mindfulness in their practice, and how do they believe this integration impacts the social and emotional learning of children? The focus of the study was to understand…

Ecotherapy is defined as the human-nature connection as addressed within a counseling session (Delaney, 2020). Ecotherapy practice has been gaining in popularity in the field of counseling. With the increase in popularity, there is a documented demand for an increase in ecotherapy training (Jordan & Hinds, 2016; King & McIntyre, 2018).…

This research addressed the complex challenge faced by public school districts in ensuring equitable academic and social-emotional opportunities for all students, considering the pervasive influence of bias and discrimination. The study focused on an initiative within a suburban school district, where various stakeholders collaborated to identify…

This mixed methods approach study examined the experiences and perceptions of educators--both certified and non-certified--in one Connecticut elementary school, which serves students from kindergarten through sixth grade. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire developed by the researcher to respond to a Likert Scale, as well as open…

This dissertation examines the Community of Faith-Enculturation Paradigm of John Westerhoff through an early childhood weekday's educational pedagogy that occurs in a conservative evangelical church setting. Chapter 1 introduces the research problem, question, thesis statement, and the purpose of the study including the definition of the terms.…

As the world faces increasingly complex issues, there is a recognition in many disciplines that the existing paradigm of reductionist and linear thinking is not enough to address these issues. The agriculture, food, and natural resources fields are facing a host of issues that defy solutions in part because of the level of complexity. Systems…

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of higher education organizational structure and institutional quality assurance practices to and the culture of teaching and learning in artistic disciplines from the perspectives of three artist-educators. The research questions addressed by this study are as follows: 1. How do…

This dissertation was developed to research how prepared aspiring Education Entrepreneurs would feel when supported holistically through a methodology that incorporates a blending of informational and transformational learning approaches while teaching Entrepreneurship. Our current entrepreneurship programs, both formal and informal, have not…