Early-career educators' professional learning experiences are critical to the development of their professional identities and retention. Relationships with others, applicability to one's role and reflection are key to these individuals' success long-term. This qualitative study sought to explore the dynamics of retention as a result of…

This qualitative case study focuses on the concept of systems thinking, which is a component of Peter Senge's theory on learning organizations. Systems thinking is a concept and tool that assists organizations in understanding the growing complexities in their organization and in the world. The purpose of this case study is to gain a better…

Women today are completing their undergraduate studies and entering careers during a time of shifting values, systemic barriers, and complex social environments. Undergraduate leadership development may positively influence women's leadership self-concept, which includes the incorporation of their intersectional social identities with their sense…

This study examined Carroll's Model of School Learning (MSL) on adult basic education (ABE). The study's central question was, "Does Carroll's MSL account for additional variance in TABE 11 or 12 scores beyond instructional time after controlling for age?" A non-experimental cross-sectional design was employed to explore the fiscal year…

Online course offerings and student enrollments continue to increase on a yearly basis, making online education a viable option for many K-12 students. This growth has increased the demand for online teachers and many educators will be experiencing the online environment for the first time. Many instructors find the online environment requires a…

Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder do not demonstrate observational learning (OL), a skill that aids in learning during group instruction. Few studies have evaluated strategies for teaching individuals to engage in OL, and none have evaluated the effects of such strategies on individuals' learning during group instruction. In this…

Service-learning is a high-impact practice that increases students' engagement with class material and the community. However, a critical lens is needed to strengthen students' understanding of and commitment to social justice and the inclusion of students from diverse backgrounds. This mixed method study examined the impact of a critical…

We used an iterative process to design the Tiered Coaching Model (TCM) to support preschool teachers' implementation of the Pyramid Model. In the TCM, teachers are matched to one of three coaching tiers based on their observed classroom practices, individual characteristics, and preferences. Coaching tiers included self-guided coaching, small…

Instructional coaches support teacher professional improvement and subsequent student learning through their instructional leadership; however, individual interpretations of district-wide instructional goals influence the work each instructional coach carries out at different school sites. This leads to a lack of systemic focus to ensure the work…

This study employed a qualitative content analysis design to examine the extent to which 8th and 11th-grade U.S. History textbooks, adopted by the State of Texas, foster historical empathy and disciplinary knowledge and skills in the subject of history through student engagement with textbook activities. The textbook activities collected for this…

College students are asked to make critical decisions about which academic major to choose and subsequently to make specific career decisions. Students come to college with a myriad of different skill sets, backgrounds, developmental levels, cognitive processes, familial support, and levels of self-efficacy that may influence how they make these…

This research addressed the need for qualitative research in teacher empathy and how teachers developed empathy. Data analysis of this phenomenological study revealed how high school teachers experienced, exhibited, and developed empathy towards students. Findings suggest that empathetic teachers view the purpose of education as a holistic…

The purpose of this research was to investigate the influence of virtual mentoring and coaching (VMC) on in-service teachers' professional growth and perception through participation in Project ETELL (Empowering Teachers of English Language Learners, Grant Award No. T365Z160229). In Chapter II, I conducted a systematic review to better understand…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine experiential training as a best practice for preparing community college faculty to teach online. Using the TPACK framework, the study reviewed the impact of providing faculty training related to technology tools and pedagogy for course design to learn about participants'…

Parental participation and involvement in education has been recognized as a critical force in student achievement and success. This phenomenological study examines the parental involvement practices of parents of children with exceptionalities in traditional and virtual learning contexts. The research questions of this examination address (a) how…