<p> Using semiotics theories as a guide, the qualitative examination of storytelling literature and current storytelling practitioners provides research support for a list of storytelling components. Analysis of story building components discovered from literature in comparison to the results from research questionnaire responses by current storytellers confirms the existence of a historic list of regularities in storytelling practice. The analysis of current storytelling literature, narrative research literature, and historic Western European literature enables the development of five descriptive statements guiding the formation of a story. The comparison of the beliefs and practices of current storytellers to the five descriptive statements guiding the formation of a story provide a research method confirming regularities in storytelling practices across historic and ethnic boundaries. The resulting list of story components support the central research question.</p>

<p> The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is an ambitious and challenging academic high school program. However, the IB program is not without its difficulties and shortcomings. Many IB students appear to sense various levels of social dissonance from the general student population. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate why nonacademic socialization is a significant problem between high school IB students and AP/traditional students. IB student/graduates and former/retired IB faculty members were used exclusively for this qualitative study. The focus of this qualitative study required analyzing the IB student nonacademic socialization lived experience. This qualitative study used a grounded theoretical methodology that included open-ended interviews. All interviews conducted were face-to-face, phone, or with the use of Skype technology. The coding analysis resulted in the emergence of four themes and sixteen subthemes. The four emergent themes generated a theoretical model that supported the central research question and two secondary research questions.</p>

<p> The purpose of this paper is to answer research questions related to this capstone project that evaluates how peer and/or individualized professional development impacts teacher comfort and usage of technology. The analysis, measures and processes utilized to answer these questions are outlined within this paper in order to determine significant factors that affect technology usage within the classroom.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to research the gap between teachers and leadership. There is a disconnection in addressing characteristics that are represented by the transformational, transactional, or laissez-faire teacher leaders. This study was focused on teachers and the type of leadership they are more inclined to display (transformational, transactional, or laissez-faire) in the classroom. The types of leadership were correlated with certification type, years of experience, and self-efficacy (personal and teaching). The 241 participants in the study were from two academically successful school districts in Texas as determined by the Academic Excellence Indicator System. The findings of the study did not produce statistically significant results between teacher leadership type and certification type nor years of experience. Leadership type and teacher and personal self-efficacy, demonstrated statistical significance. Recommendations for future study are made. </p><p> <i>Keywords:</i> teachers, leadership, transformational, transactional, laissez-faire, certification type, years of experience, self-efficacy.</p>

<p>The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of accomplished teaching practitioners by tracing the development of the teaching expertise of participants using a narrative inquiry frame. This allowed time and space for participants to engage in making meaning of the memories of lived teaching experiences. This perspective took into account the influence of the cultures and contexts in which the teacher was situated prior to, during, and after engaging in the National Board process. The implications of the study indicated engaging in continuous reflection enabled teachers to mitigate problems by framing and reframing practices. Educators at all levels may do well to pause, reflect, and reconsider the how the structures of public school might be altered so that teachers have the spaces they need to learn to teach in ways that ensure all students, particularly those with a support system that is significantly different from the backgrounds of their teachers, are provided with an equitable education. School leaders might choose to consider how the disparate cultural history of teachers and students influences the teaching practices in their school and community context, which may diminish the likelihood of equity, access, and fairness for learning by all students. Emphasis on creating pathways for culturally diverse future educators will continue to be of concern as our knowledge of the growing diversity of our students depends on constructing understandings of their actual, not perceived, educational needs. </p>

<p> This case study research examined the perceptions of general and special education teachers towards educating students with disabilities in an inclusion classroom. The Concerns Based Adoption Model (CBAM) aided understanding of teacher participants' stages of concern in the inclusive process and the ways in which participation in training could affect those perceptions. A small district in the southern part of the United States was the focus of this study. Before training, participants took a pre-assessment survey, followed by three training sessions, and a subsequent post-assessment survey. The analysis of previously collected statistical CBAM data and interviews provided context for the research questions. Analysis of Pre- and Post-Stages of Concern survey data determined the teacher participants' levels of concern before and after training. After transcribing and coding interview data to develop categories, the data created themes that supported teacher responses on pre- and post-surveys. CBAM survey data indicated no change in teacher concern from pre- to post-survey; however, interview data revealed teachers had thought about inclusion. Interview data also revealed other initiatives and programs of higher concern, which affected the outcome of the statistical data. Research outcomes addressed teacher concerns, noting that leaders should develop training to meets those concern and consider teacher demands when implementing new initiatives.</p>

<p> Public school leaders in New York State are facing incredible challenges in the wake of Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) of teachers and the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for students. At the same time, national turnover rates for principals are high. Principals often report feeling unprepared for the demands of the job as their role has changed over the last few years. Many do not stay in the role past the third year, and almost half leave the position after year five. This study aimed to examine the effect of professional development on the self-efficacy of new public high school principals in an eight-county region known as upstate New York. Twelve public high school principals with five or fewer years of service voluntarily took part in a qualitative interview using a researcher-developed protocol. The goal of this study was to inform system-level leadership of the best ways to professionally develop new public high school principals to increase self-efficacy, and therefore increase the chances that the principal would stay in her or his role. Findings from this study included the fact that new high school principals looked for active system-level leadership and a shared decision making process when selecting appropriate professional development opportunities. New high school principals also found networking and mentoring to be two professional development practices that positively impacted their self-efficacy. Future research suggested at the end of this study included possible partnerships with local colleges and universities to align administrative preparation programs with the current demands of the position. This was a recurring theme during the interview process. One further recommendation for future study was the proposal to repeat this study with principals at different levels (elementary and middle school) or with different levels of experience (greater than five years of service). Suggested Keywords: public schools, new high school principals, professional development for high school principals, self-efficacy for high school principals, upstate New York</p>

<p> Supportive relationships between teachers and their students help create an environment for student success, but there remains a need for additional understanding about how to effectively promote positive teacher-student relationships in order to support stronger policy and practice in modern schools. In this qualitative analysis, I seek to deepen the research about supportive teacher-student relationships by analyzing how students, teachers, and principals described their experiences in early college high schools (ECHS) in North Carolina. Early college high schools represent a relatively new school model in which high school students earn college credits while working toward their high school diplomas. Quantitative analyses of the performance of ECHS students suggest students in early college high schools outperform their peers from comprehensive schools on a variety of measures. One important design element of these schools suggests that teachers must know students well to help them achieve academically and it is my assertion that supportive teacher-student relationships may contribute to ECHS students&rsquo; success. </p><p> For this study, I analyze qualitative data previously collected as part of a larger longitudinal study from students, teachers, and principals studying and working in 19 early college high schools in North Carolina. I employ Giddens&rsquo; theory of structuration as a lens for understanding the relationships between the agents (students, teachers, and principals) and the social structures that influence the experiences of those in the schools. I consider the leadership practices of the principals to promote supportive teacher-student relationships as well as teacher practices, and compared the adults&rsquo; claims to the students&rsquo; perceived experiences with their teachers. My findings reveal three elements in the social systems of the ECHS contribute to supportive teacher-student relationships which include the following: (1) the beliefs of teachers, students, and principals; (2) deliberate actions of principals and teachers; and (3) programs that create social spaces for such relationships to grow.</p>

<p> Chinese students have historically come to study in the United States at the college and post- secondary levels. In the last ten years, this phenomenon has spread exponentially to the high school level, but scant research exists on this topic. This paper investigates why Chinese students come to study in U.S. high schools, who these students are, what their academic and social experiences are, and what can be done to support them. A qualitative study was conducted, with one on one interviews with 14 high school students from three different high schools, one all male school, one all-female, and one co-ed. Cultural capital theory (Bourdieu and Passeron, 1977) underscores and helps illuminate the data. While the findings mirror those of research completed at the college level, something deeper emerged. Chinese students possess the cultural capital to make this journey, and the habitus that gives them the courage and perseverance to navigate it, but that capital and habitus doesn't always transfer to the field of the U.S. high school environment. While Chinese students perceive students and teachers as helpful and kind, there is much more U.S. high schools can do to support them. In the end, Chinese students use the traits they've learned from their families and their culture to meet their goals, escape the Chinese style of education and the <i> Gaokao</i> exam, acclimate to the culture, and go on to attend U.S. colleges. </p>

<p> The purpose of this grounded theory study of diversity leaders, in the context of U.S. coeducational independent schools, is to construct a theoretical model that explains what contributes to the development and implementation of effective diversity leadership&mdash;thereby ensuring education equity for students from diverse class, race, and ethnic backgrounds. The study was guided by the following central research question: How does school leadership ensure educational equity for all students from diverse class, racial, and ethnic backgrounds enrolled in U.S. independent schools? (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)</p>