The paper shares the results of the process of forming a cross-disciplinary collaborative team and using a user-centered design framework to co-create a self-directed, self-paced, personalized, flexible learning environment as an alternative approach to preparing PK-8 preservice teachers to teach computational thinking. It is part of a larger…

As national headlines inform us of increasing school violence, adolescent suicide, and other mental health issues, there is an obvious need to offer support to adolescents in their schools. This study was spurred by the researcher's practice as a mental health clinician and school counselor working in a variety of public and private schools over…

The recent increase in enrollment of Latinx students and the increasing number of HSIs do not equate to success in the goal of serving Latinx students. To advance the support of Latinx student success, the entire climate and university system need to be examined, which are way beyond enrollment ratios. Developing extensive and in-depth support…

The purpose of my research was to understand LAUSD counselors' perceptions related to professional development around crisis response before and during COVID. The goal of this project was to learn how we can best support prevention efforts for students. I learned about counselors' understanding of the suicide preventative measures the district…

This qualitative research study was conducted to gain insight into the perceptions of a small rural school district's dyslexia program. Dyslexia is a neurological reading disability affecting millions of students in public education. Students with dyslexia have a deficit in the phonological component of language causing their struggle with reading…

Marketing strategy involves selecting a target market and determining the desired product positioning to attract the desired customers (Silk, 2006). Recently, community colleges have seen a decrease in student enrollment. In some cases, this was brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic; in other cases budget constraints have posed challenges to…

Increasingly, students with disabilities are attending college and using accommodations to ensure equal access to academics and college life. Students with disabilities have insight into their accommodations, have opinions on the instructional practices that support their learning, and have thoughts about the abrupt transition to remote education…

With the rise in globalization, an increasing number of minoritized, multiracial, and cross-cultural students are enrolling in the U.S. PK-12 school systems. As the PK-12 student landscape becomes more diverse, teachers, staff, principals, and school counselors need to be aware of and able to address specific needs and provide support for students…

The American higher education industry is undergoing severe changes, including financial exigency, decreased state/federal assistance, and increased tuition. While the former changes are relatively apparent, one other change deserves more attention -- the growth of adult learners, specifically females. The seeming lackluster response by…

Improving educational outcomes and school conditions for historically marginalized students has been a primary goal since the school accountability movement began in the 1960s. However, despite decades of legislation, policy, and enactment designed to achieve this purpose, historically marginalized students continue to suffer from disparate…

This quantitative study aimed to expand upon existing research, which discussed student expectations, the relationship between expectations and retention, persistence, and student success, as well as why understanding student expectations is important to supporting student success. This research study explored these concepts from a lens of…

This conceptual article highlights the use of instructional practices based on the Universal Design for Learning framework and a focus on promoting effective mindsets in two teacher preparation courses (Classroom Management and Introduction to Developmental Psychology & Learning Theory). These practices have anecdotally demonstrated potential…

The purpose of this dissertation is to understand how and why different state financial aid policy designs have developed, with particular attention to external influences, and what effect those design choices have on student outcomes. In the first essay, I use the theoretical framework of diffusion to understand the design and adoption of…

The underlining purpose of all career and technical education (CTE) strives to prepare students for the world of work. Schools throughout the country offer CTE programs, yet manufacturing, healthcare, and STEM industries struggle to fill entry-level employment vacancies. This exploratory narrative qualitative study aimed to explore the stories of…

This study explored the topic of college student well-being and campus-wide initiatives aimed at facilitating positive health and lifestyle behaviors through educational efforts. A university-branded website was created with an aim of increasing students' understanding of well-being. Student perceptions of the website's impact on their knowledge,…