This dissertation studies several key issues related to teacher turnover, mentorship, and discrimination. The first chapter examines the impact of misbehaving students on the likelihood of novice teachers leaving their positions within the first five years. Utilizing data from North Carolina between 2007 and 2015, the study employs quasi-random…

The purpose of this replicated phenomenological study was to describe teachers' lived experiences with self-efficacy teaching face-to-face instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic in a public school district in Southwestern Louisiana. The theory guiding this study is Bandura's (1977) theory of self-efficacy, which was used to answer the following…

This quasi-experimental study examined the effectiveness of a one-time emergency financial relief program among Pell Grant eligible undergraduate students in Spring 2015 pursuing their first bachelor's degree across academic and financial outcomes. The academic outcomes included retention to the next semester, degree completion, attempted credit…

This qualitative Participatory Action Research (PAR) study, conducted at the University of Georgia, delved into the experiences of Hispanic students within the Latinos/as Invested in the Students of Tomorrow (LISTo) student organization. Central to the study was familismo, a crucial Hispanic cultural construct, and its role in fostering ethnic…

The Latino population is the fastest-growing community in the United States yet falls behind in the percentage of students who successfully graduate from college compared to other cultural groups. While trends of Latino students applying to college are on the rise, many cannot successfully obtain a degree due to detrimental barriers. These…

High turnover has cost-related consequences for the school and community. Understanding how principals lead and motivate through specific behaviors and characteristics is important to learn what influences teachers' decisions to return to teaching in their schools each year. This qualitative study addressed the connection between the actions and…

This study investigates undergraduate student satisfaction at a small private university in Japan, focusing on factors like social environment, instructors, facilities, support, academic grit, and student engagement. Given Japan's demographic challenges and the heightened competition in higher education, understanding these factors is crucial for…

Since the beginning of the 21st century, China's education for international students has seen rapid growth, making it the third largest destination for international students globally and the largest in Asia. This growth occurs against a backdrop of intensifying global economic competition and increasingly fierce competition for international…

The problem is teacher attrition among students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBDs) in the southeastern United States. Addressing this problem is vital to improving outcomes for students with EBDs. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore factors related to teacher retention and quality instruction when working with…

In Latin America, higher education inequality disproportionately affects individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and Peru is no exception. Since 2012, the National Scholarship and Student Loan Programme (PRONABEC) has disbursed grants, aiming to enhance access to higher education for impoverished Peruvian young people. However, the…

College campuses are responsible for coordinating support services to keep students on the success track. Student issues often inhibit or obstruct progress toward a degree. The impact of COVID-19 has affected student trajectory and persistence toward a college degree, and students are feeling this impact. Two surveys conducted of students at…

This is the third in a series of annual reports about teacher shortages in Michigan that the state legislature requested in December 2020 (2020 PA 316). Although the state data on this topic is limited, these analyses still help to paint a picture of teacher shortages across Michigan, assist policymakers to target policies and programs in ways…

Background: School systems have struggled to staff special education positions for decades (Billingsley, 1993; Cowan et al., 2016; Mason-Williams et al., 2020), but recent data suggest special education staffing challenges are now a crisis. As of October 2023, 21% of schools, and 30% of high-poverty schools, reported at least one special educator…

Due to high rates of teacher shortages, there is a serious problem emerging in our national education system, which will continue to affect teachers, students, and society in general. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore veteran teachers' reasons for remaining in the field of education and their perceptions of best practices…

Background: Undergraduate research programs have been shown to have positive effects on student outcomes like retention and academic achievement. This study contributes to the very limited body of causal research on mentored undergraduate research programs (also known as apprentice-style research experiences, or AREs) by measuring the short- and…