Effective classroom management is of critical importance to the success of universal, Tier I supports and services. Unfortunately, teacher-reported deficits in classroom management training are well documented. In response, use of professional development activities such as consultation, coaching, and on-going performance feedback emphasizing…

The demand for public accountability in U.S. higher education has risen since the beginning of the 20th century. To meet these expectations, colleges and universities undergo institutional accreditation reviews to ensure they meet accountability and quality assurance requirements. This increased focus on institutional accreditation has prompted a…

This dissertation study was set within a collaborative, discussion-based classroom intervention called Collaborative Social Reasoning (CSR). In this study, I aim to examine teacher scaffolding moves, or strategies used to support students' learning, in relationship with student equity in CSR discussions. Equity indicators analyzed include uptake,…

Prior research demonstrates that school leaders can help develop teacher efficacy by creating positive school climates, providing opportunities for mentoring and purposeful feedback, and providing meaningful professional learning (Bressman, Winters, & Efron, 2017; Fry, 2009; Ross & Bruce, 2007). Yet despite significant prior research on…

Teacher quality is a perennially fertile field for education reformers. Among teacher quality policies, two of the more highly touted and widely adopted are state-mandated systems of teacher evaluation and formalized models of teacher collaborative teams, often known generally as professional learning communities (PLCs). Indeed, despite a…

Feedback is provided to teachers throughout the school year. But how often do school administrators receive feedback on the feedback communicated to teachers and have an opportunity to deliberately practice delivering the information in a concise manner? This quantitative study begins to address school leaders' abilities in the Colonial School…

Over past decade, districts throughout the United States have reformed their teacher evaluation systems in order to support teachers to improve teacher practices and to improve the composition of teachers in the workforce. Despite the widespread reform of evaluation systems, little research has examined the impacts these systems have on teacher…

Science, already a massive and global enterprise, continues to grow in both size and complexity. Accompanying this growth is a deluge of data on scientific activity and advancements in computational techniques that open new avenues for its analysis. Leveraging these new data and techniques, the field of "Science of Science" turns the…

For years, higher education institutions have sparingly utilized the services of contingent instructors. However, a new faculty majority, known as contingent instructors, are now teaching on these campuses. Their employment is contingent upon student enrollment, institutional budgets, and managerial discretion. Some consequences have emerged…

Using unique statewide panel data from Tennessee, we describe instructional coach (IC) and teacher peer observer (TPO) distributions in terms of their teaching expertise and observable school and district characteristics. The evidence suggests ICs are more likely to work in districts with lower-performing teachers while working in schools with…

This study investigated the effects of collaborative reflection (CR) on Iranian English language teachers' intercultural instructional practice. The data were gathered by observing the classroom instruction of four novice and experienced teachers before and after eight CR sessions. The result revealed that CR was an effective tool for improving…

Recent lawsuits reveal common mistakes plaguing current teacher evaluation systems. Drawing on arguments in court documents for prominent cases, the authors find that evaluation systems using value-added measures (VAM) suffer from a) inconsistent and unreliable teacher ratings, b) bias toward and against teachers of certain types of students, c)…

Teacher evaluation has been a topic of conversation at the federal, state and local level in recent years. While commonly viewed as a way for administrators to inform their personnel decisions, teacher evaluation is rarely assessed on its ability to support teacher growth. The purpose of this study is to investigate the Connecticut SEED model of…

Teacher turnover is an enduring concern in education policy and can incur substantial costs to students. Policies often address turnover broadly, yet effects turn on net differences in the effectiveness of exiting and entering teachers, in addition to the disruption dealt to classrooms. Recent research has shown mixed effects of teacher evaluation…

Higher education institutions face the challenge to promote diversity competence. We suggest a procedure which can help raise awareness for diversity issues amongst staff and students and thereby foster diversity competence and facilitate the implementation of diversity strategies within higher education institutions: to include a self-assessment…