Early childhood center directors need to effectively function in their workplace so that they can provide leadership that supports quality. Their personal and professional well-being may affect how they support other educators. Few studies have investigated work-related well-being from directors' perspectives. This qualitative study investigated…

Embedded misogyny and white supremacy in higher education have resulted in Chicana graduate students experiencing education-based traumas. Furthermore, hegemonic values related to what is considered "noteworthy" and "publishable" in academia are heavily influenced by racism, sexism, and misogyny, further oppressing Chicanas…

There has been a concentrated effort to increase access to college for students of color. The purpose of this research study was designed to investigate the influences of family on the experiences of college students of color. Earlier research studies incorporated many components that contributed to student success, but needed to examine the…

This research aims to examine current practices in gifted and talented educator professional learning, as well as teacher attitudes, beliefs, and experiences towards gifted education in order to explore opportunities to further develop and improve professional learning structures. Through a qualitative methodology following the…

There is, a significant gender representation gap in higher education. Along similar lines are the aspect of hiring faculty that identify as female within an ethic minority group, despite the noted benefits of hiring a diverse faculty. Unfortunately, many studies on minority hiring do not differentiate between the two genders, as a result there is…

Student assignment algorithms have far reaching implications for families, the education system, and for society as a whole. Motivated by operational challenges faced by the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), we use a mechanism design framework to develop, operationalize, and streamline algorithmic student matching policies in San…

Ethnic Studies has existed in higher education for more than fifty years. In high school, critical education researchers have recognized Ethnic Studies as vital to improving attendance, lowering suspension rates, and boosting GPAs for BIPOC students. This has given rise to the recent K-12 Ethnic Studies model curriculum adoption by the State Board…

Parents, students, administrators and teachers all make a choice to be a part of a charter school. Since 1991 when the first charter school in the United States opened, charter schools have grown. As of 2018 over 3.3 million students across the United States attend charter schools and the projection for growth continues. In spite of making up the…

Thousands of international students come to the US every year and must rely on computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools to stay in touch with their family and close friends back home. In this dissertation, I examined international students' use of CMC tools for communication with their left-behind family and close friends by conducting 38…

This dissertation explores how four critical teachers of color learn and develop through dialogue and reflection about their own educational and life histories as well as their work in ethnic studies classrooms. As K-12 schools in states like California integrate ethnic studies into their curricula, educators are looking to established ethnic…

Earning a college degree requires a standard measure of academic success. Institutionally, this measure is calculated in earned credits and cumulative grade point averages known together as satisfactory academic progress. This qualitative study explores the relationship of students' academic progress and their perceived sense of belonging after…

This report shares findings taken from a Community Analysis and identifies 1) structural challenges that communities face as they work to support transition age youth (TAY); 2) narratives about TAY that contribute to these challenges and policies and practices that create burdens for TAY in meeting their needs; and 3) creative solutions that build…

This quantitative study assessed the impact of performance-based pay on student achievement in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. Performance-based pay is rooted in the belief that teachers will exert greater effort to enhance student outcomes when their efforts are incentivized. While traditional salary schedules are widely used, their…

This qualitative study described the lived experiences of 17 educators. These educators were 10 teachers and 7 principals. The study was conducted using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology to explore the lived experiences of teachers and principals. The population included those teachers and principals with 5 or more…

This study investigated how first-year college students described belonging experiences with college peers in the first semester, specifically conceptualizing these relationships as bidirectional, where college students both receive and provide support to one another in a mutual way. A descriptive phenomenological research design was employed to…