Multi-Tiered Systems of Support is a framework utilized by schools when implementing evidence-based teaching practices to target the academic and social emotional needs of students. This action research study sought to investigate the successes and challenges educators experience when implementing MTSS in urban elementary schools. Participants and…

"'English is Unavoidable': The Implementation of Multilingual Writing in Foundations Writing, General Education, and Writing Across the Curriculum" reports on a longitudinal, qualitative study of six administrators and one multilingual student who were involved in three institutional writing initiatives during a time of major…

This dissertation argues for the importance of prioritizing the student experience in music theory discourse, both in teaching practice and content. To achieve this, a student centered curriculum and methodology are proposed, using learning objectives that align with student experiences. The concept of music literacy is defined as the sum of…

The 21st century is a new era full of hope and challenges, and 21st century skills are crucial to today's globalized world (Goradia, 2018; Bellanca & Brant, 2010; Worapun et al., 2022). More and more educational organizations have started to realize the importance of applying 21st century skills to contemporary education. In this changing…

In response to social developments and the civil rights movement in the 1960s, the social work profession began to develop a formal identity which included a commitment to social justice. Today, that concept of social justice includes diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in education and practice. Teachers and researchers have rarely…

Despite significant contributions to healthcare made by male nurses throughout the centuries, nursing is a female-dominated profession, creating challenges for male nursing students. The problem addressed in this study was that male nursing students experience challenges that impede their success toward completing their urban Midwest community…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how Hispanic female administrators describe their experiences with discrimination at work, and how those experiences may have played a role in their career progression as community college leaders in the United States. The theoretical foundation of the study was critical race theory…

Beginning special education teachers often leave the field within the first 3-5 years of employment. There is ample research available on mentoring programs for beginning teachers. However, limited research exists on mentoring programs for beginning special education teachers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived…

This Dissertation in Practice explored the impact of an individualized meeting with family members of low-income students on the family member sense of connection to the university and knowledge of campus resources. Parents and family members play an important role in higher education as influencers, stakeholders, fundraisers, bill payers, and…

In this qualitative phenomenological study, the lived experiences of ten transgender students attending a public college or university were explored. Each participant had completed at least one semester. Before this dissertation, no study explored the lived experiences of transgender college or university students in Jamaica. Research shows that…

Facilitating productive mathematical discussions is considered a core practice of mathematics education. The complexity of this teaching practice presents the need for pedagogical tools to provide structure for preservice teachers (PST) developing their practice, yet little is known about "how" PSTs use these tools. This multiple case…

A pervasive and widespread shortage of early intervention (EI) teachers is preventing vital services from reaching infants and toddlers with disabilities during their most critical period of brain development. To better understand the EI teacher shortage, this qualitative study examined the career decision-making of 11 EI teachers from the…

Findings from Travis J. Bristol's research article, "To Be Alone or In a Group: An Exploration into How the School-Based Experiences Differ for Black Male Teachers Across One Urban School District," found that Black teachers who were in "Groupers schools," those with four or more Black male teachers in the building, had a…

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a pervasive developmental disability with a rising prevalence rate. Literature reveals that individuals with ASD often lack independence in life skills and are consistently underrepresented in employment. This mixed-methods study elicited the perspectives of and experiences in life skills education and employment…

Issues of teacher support, retention and recruitment are not new phenomena. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has added layers of uncertainty to the industry. Fearful of exposure, infection, and not identified as an essential industry, educators across the nation were impacted. The problem of practice is couched in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic…